The Arnold Apartments: A Case Study
Project Overview
Originally constructed in the 1920s, The Arnold has long been part of Wichita’s downtown fabric. Over the decades, the four-story building served as home to Arnold Motors Co., once recognized as one of the southwest’s premier automobile dealers. It functioned as a hub for passenger luggage transfers connected to the bus station next door, and later served generations of Wichita professionals, small businesses, and community organizations as a multi-tenant office building. This history carries a unique connection to today, as SPT Architecture’s office next door occupies the former Greyhound bus station.
The renovation of The Arnold transformed a 1920s four-story building in downtown Wichita into 42 modern studio and one-bedroom apartments, with 5,000 square feet of retail space occupying the ground level. With the upcoming Wichita Biomedical Campus- a partnership between the University of Kansas and Wichita State University- set to open nearby in 2027, the project was shaped by a clear need: provide accessible housing options for students and future residents drawn to the growing district.
Having previously worked together, Bruce Rowley, member of Arena South Management, and his partners selected SPT Architecture for the project based on an established level of trust and confidence in the team’s design approach and ability to navigate the complexities of adaptive reuse.
The Challenge: What problem needed to be solved?
With the future Wichita Biomedical Campus bringing new students and professionals to downtown Wichita, the project required affordable, walkable housing while navigating the complexities of converting a nearly century-old commercial building into a code-compliant residential property.
Key challenges:
- Adaptive reuse of a 1920’s structure
- Creating efficient student-oriented housing
- Meeting modern accessibility and life-safety requirements
- Preserving the building’s historic character
- Activating the ground floor for future retail use
The Design Approach: How SPT responded
Efficient Living
Units were designed with open layouts, high ceilings, and large windows to maximize livability within smaller footprints.
“Efficient unit layouts targeted to student housing was the original intent, in addition to cost effectiveness.”
— Ashlynn Bender, Associate IIDA & Drew Phillips, AIA
Flexible Unit Mix
The team developed seven unit-types to accommodate a variety of resident needs while maintaining an efficient building layout.
Historic Preservation: What was preserved?
Rather than erase the building’s history, the design focused on revealing and celebrating original elements. During construction, the team uncovered original terrazzo flooring featuring a Santa Fe Trail emblem in the lobby.
“We wanted to preserve the history of the building… the terrazzo in the lobby with the original Santa Fe Trail logo became something worth keeping and highlighting.”
— Ashlynn Bender, Associate IIDA
Key Interventions: What changed?
- New full-height storefront glazing improved visibility and street engagement
- Selective masonry modifications allowed larger ground-floor openings
- A new stair tower replaced the outdated fire escape
- Life-safety and accessibility upgrades enabled residential conversion
The Outcome
The Arnold Apartments now provides 42 walkable residential units and 5,000 square feet of retail opportunity in downtown Wichita, helping support the district’s continued growth around the future biomedical campus while preserving an important piece of the city’s architectural history.
