Ed Martin: Save Century II . . . for what?

Any campaign to save Century II and the former downtown library must answer the question, “Save them for what?” Both buildings were designed over 50 years ago, and both buildings have become obsolete.

Public buildings require functional reasons to exist. Cultural facilities, including Century II and the library building, must also generate revenue to help cover their operating costs. Otherwise, they become bigger taxpayer burdens.

Simply remodeling Century II cannot solve its inherent problems. Its circular floor plan has the roof-support structure at its center. It’s like a doughnut with wedge-shaped rooms.

Wedge-shaped theaters have a small stage and minimal back-stage space. This limits local theater groups and is inadequate for many traveling productions. These shows commonly arrive in 10 to 20 semi-trailers which must park on Kennedy Plaza, and everything is wheeled through the exhibition hall. Once inside, there is no convenient storage. Many touring shows skip Wichita because they cannot fit into Century II. Much revenue is lost.

Century II’s design allows sound to flow between the halls, with no easy fix. Multiple events cannot be held simultaneously. More revenue is lost.

Conventions are important to Wichita’s economy. We compete for many regional conventions. Every year we lose more events to Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Johnson County, Omaha and even Topeka. Our facilities are no longer competitive. Conventions often include trade shows that require a large rectangular space for vendor booths and displays. Expo Hall is too small, and spaces in Century II are unacceptable for overflow. More lost revenue.

The structure supporting Century II’s blue roof dictates its “doughnut” floor plan which creates all the other problems. Spending millions of dollars remodeling it without resolving these fundamental problems will still result in an obsolete building that functions poorly.

Some argue for saving Century II because its designers were students of Frank Lloyd Wright. Students don’t automatically inherit the significance of their instructor. Many studied physics under Einstein, but they were not Einstein. Many studied architecture under Frank Lloyd Wright as well.

The former library building is a beautiful example of the 1960’s Brutalist style, winning a Kansas architectural award when completed. However, its survival requires it to be given a long-term economically viable public use.

High-quality cultural facilities create an economic impact by attracting events and visitors to Wichita. They should make people want to come, stay, live and work in Wichita, help build businesses and contribute to the economy.

Everyone has fond memories of events at Century II, but they are just that — memories. Wichita’s convention and performing arts facilities are obsolete and need to be replaced. The question is where to build them. The most logical location is the public land east of the river.

Emotional decisions are not always good decisions. To save the current buildings, they must be converted to fill a necessary public need functionally, efficiently and economically. If keeping these old buildings in operation is unnecessary and causes higher taxes, they need to be removed.

This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 10:11 AM.