Vibrant Bendheim Glass Signals Airport Accessibility for Kansas City
Z-KISS concealed attachment system adds color to terminal with ease
Architects seeking a better passenger experience chose striking glass interiors from Bendheim for a brand-new airport terminal in Kansas City. Bendheimâs Z-KISS™ Concealed Interior Glass Cladding System facilitated installation, speeding one key aspect of a $1.5 billion project.
The new single terminal at Kansas City Internationalârepresenting the largest infrastructure project in the regionâs history–opened in February 2023. From the beginning of the design process, meetings with the cityâs taxpayers identified a streamlined experience for travelers as a high priority, with an emphasis on comfort and dignity for all. In 2018, the Mayor and City Council of Kansas City, Mo., specifically directed lead architects at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill to create âthe most accessible airport in the world.â
One reflection of this aim was the terminalâs restroom design. In addition to traditional male-only and female-only spaces, generous provision was made for gender-neutral facilities, easing travel for families with young children and cutting long wait times for female passengers. These options are coded with color as well as signage to direct travelers appropriately: blue for men, yellow for women, and green for gender-neutral rooms.
Bendheim provided the vibrant back-painted etched glass used to execute this vision, as well as the patent-pending Z-KISS concealed attachment system. With over 10,000 square feet of glass provided, Kansas City International represents Bendheimâs largest Z-KISS installation to date.
A fully-engineered alternative to traditional Z-clip fastening systems, Z-KISS requires fewer horizontal hanging brackets while providing reliable mechanical support for the dead load of glass. Designed to create a frameless aesthetic for opaque glass, Z-KISS can be used with a wide range of Bendheim glass choices, including back-painted, mirrored, or digitally printed varieties. The glass is delivered with the hardware preinstalled, ready for installation, and accompanied by Bendheim shop drawings and layout drawings.
In addition to back-painted glass for the restrooms, Bendheim also provided etched laminated mirrored glass from Bendheimâs Titanium™ line to frame the new terminalâs elevators in a warm cinnamon shade. While emphasizing access and inclusivity, project architects also bore in mind the terminalâs prominence as a brand new welcome center for Kansas City. With high-profile events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the airportâs near future, a world-class feeling for its interior spaces was essential. With its etched surface, the delicate mirror effect of Titanium glass becomes beautifully subtle, with the gentlest of diffused reflections.
âOur design capabilities and the breadth of our product offerings give us wonderful opportunities to support the visions of our architect partners,â said Said Elieh, Bendheimâs Vice President for Sales and Innovation. âEase of installation is a high priority for us too, since itâs our job to make the beauty of these special glasses a practical choice. Weâre extremely proud of our contributions to Kansas Cityâs next-generation airport, and we greatly respect their commitment to safe and comfortable travels for everyone.â
For further information about Bendheimâs Z-KISS Concealed Interior Glass Cladding System, please see:Â https://bendheim.com/system_product/z-kiss-interior-wall-cladding/
For further information about Bendheimâs extensive catalog of interior glass cladding options, please see:Â https://bendheim.com/professional/glass/