News
What began as a need, grew into an idea—one that the community rallied behind to bring to life. The result is a one-of-a-kind facility, designed as a model that other communities can replicate, uniting essential services to serve people of all backgrounds.
The Flint Hills Community Accelerator recently celebrated its ribbon-cutting and grand opening in Manhattan, KS. As the design team that led the project, we’ve got some proud moments we’d like to share.
- It started with a few community members: moms, dads, daycare providers, and business owners, who said, “Hey, something isn’t working here. Something needs to happen.” —- so, they said it louder, and repeatedly, until it caught on and resonated.
- Entities like the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation and the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce came alongside, they asked how they could help, and the idea took off.
- Ascension Via Christi saw this as a huge win to have in our community, let alone their backyard, and supported the cause with the land to build.
- Education (Manhattan Tech), Workforce (Kansas WorkforceONE), Healthcare (Manhattan Free Clinic), and Childcare (Childcare Business Initiative) were all identified as the organizations that would strengthen Manhattan’s future. They came together to create a one-of-a-kind hub.
- Anderson Knight was selected as the design firm, and BHS the contractor – more on that later.
- The project was fast and furious, with grant funding, and timelines. It was important to move the design through a tight timeline, with several stakeholders at the table. However, the team took on the challenge both personally and professionally. We knew what this would mean for our town.
- BHS was at the table and an excellent partner to work with. Once construction was underway, they worked tirelessly to see it to completion. They worked around the clock, always prepared for a walk-through or a quick change.
- The final touches were made, and over 200 people, alongside Governor Laura Kelly, cut the ribbon and toured the facility on a hot, breezy day in August.
However, eight bullet points do not really convey the real essence behind what the Accelerator means.
It’s the daycare providers working each and every day, adding much-needed daycare slots for our community. Learning alongside each other to one day start their own daycare business.
It’s workforce, finding available opportunities for job seekers to connect with training and new employment opportunities they hadn’t had before.
It’s the education and outreach of the Manhattan Tech campus, offering skills and programs to equip people with the necessary skills and prepare them for the workforce.
It’s access to essential healthcare for families of all kinds.
It’s more than a ribbon-cutting can capture, but it was an excellent start to get people in the door and actually see what strategic partnerships can do when they put their minds to it.
As the architects on the project, we were one part of a larger whole—one that we’re eager to watch as it creates a lasting impact not only in Manhattan, but across our entire state
This is why we do what we do. We live, work, and play in our community, so we can continue to make it better for those around us.
We seek to transform communities through design.
Congratulations to the Flint Hills Community Accelerator and all involved.
To learn more about the details of the project: PROJECT PAGE
To learn more directly about the Accelerator: https://www.flinthillscommunityaccelerator.org/