Herzog Downtown Studio

From Main Street to Media Hub

Smithville, MO

When the Stanley M. Herzog Foundation outgrew their broadcast studio, they turned to an ambitious solution: transforming a historic building on Smithville’s downtown square into a state-of-the-art news station facility. This adaptive reuse project would breathe new life into 106 N. Bridge St. while creating the expanded broadcast capabilities they needed.

The 6,900 SF building presented unique opportunities and challenges. The Foundation envisioned the upper level as additional office space and conference rooms, while the main floor would house a full-scale broadcast studio – a significant upgrade from their previous facility where they had underestimated their spatial needs.

Working with Focal Architecture, our team approached this historic renovation with meticulous attention to detail. The exterior work focused on preservation and enhancement: we cleaned and repainted cornices, tuck-pointed all exterior masonry, replaced select bricks, and added an attractive new storefront with updated windows. The goal was respectful restoration that honored the building’s downtown character.

Inside, we created sophisticated spaces using premium materials that matched the Foundation’s existing facility. White oak became a signature element throughout – from trim and wall paneling to stair treads and custom door veneers that blend seamlessly with surrounding panels. We applied a distinctive European plaster paint finish that creates the appearance of aged lime wash, adding character and depth to the walls.

One of the project’s most striking features is the polished cement floor system incorporating Kansas pea gravel from the Missouri River. This unique material creates an elegant, durable surface that’s neither traditional terrazzo nor standard polished concrete – it’s something distinctly regional and visually compelling.

The broadcast studio demanded extraordinary precision. Every element required careful coordination, from the pipe grid ceiling system that supports lighting and equipment to the acoustical wall panels. The architect specified that ceiling grid joints align perfectly with wall panel joints – a detail that required extensive planning and flawless execution.

Perhaps nowhere was this attention to detail more evident than in the custom glass handrail system. The joints in the glass panels needed to align exactly with the wood wall panel joints behind them. We topped this sophisticated element with a $20,000 leather-wrapped handrail, installed by a specialist from New York.

The most significant challenge emerged when structural assessment revealed the building’s parapets needed complete reconstruction. These elements were integral to the wall system’s stability, requiring us to shore the entire interior to support the roof and floors during demolition and rebuilding. This complex process delayed the schedule by two months, but our team responded with additional hours and weekend work to meet the Foundation’s Christmas deadline.

Our self-performed scope included demolition, concrete work, structural steel installation, and rough carpentry – allowing us to maintain quality control and schedule coordination throughout the challenging structural work. We also managed the Foundation’s separate $600,000 audiovisual package, ensuring seamless integration with construction activities.

The project finished ahead of the corrected timeline and under budget, with a credit returned to the owner. The result is a broadcast facility that serves as both functional workspace and architectural showcase, demonstrating how historic buildings can be thoughtfully adapted for modern technological needs.

Project Facts

Industry Sector: Commercial – Retail & Office
Cost: $4,994,773
Size: 6,900 SF
Delivery Method: Negotiated
Self-Perform: Demo, Rough Carpentry, Steel Erection, Concrete
Owner: The Stanley M. Herzog Foundation
Architect: Focal
Engineer: PMA Engineering