Bar-K Canine Social Club is a unique social destination combining a thoughtfully designed, fully-staffed two-acre dog park with a modern bar, restaurant and coffeehouse crafted from repurposed shipping containers. Bar-K brings engaged, community-minded people and their dogs together to share connections with their pups and each other in a fun, unique and creative place.

Architecture, Construction & Design Awards 2018
First Award | Hospitality (Built)

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Located on the northern boundary of the Kansas City, Missouri metro area in Berkley Riverfront Park, a strip of land along the Missouri River undergoing a renaissance of residential development, Bar-K Canine Social Club is quickly becoming a destination for Kansas City’s newest residents….and their dogs.

Taking advantage of “found” space under the Heart of America Bridge, Bar-K breathes new life into a previously unused and derelict site, providing the ultimate backyard experience for urban residents complete with a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, beer garden, rooftop patio and 2-acre dog park.  

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Referencing the industrial nature of the site – bordered by road, river and rail – this project is fabricated from an industrial building block – the intermodal steel shipping container. By creatively stacking 14 recycled high-cube containers, the unapologetic result carefully balances its raw industrial appearance with its welcoming and playful interior experience. The two-story food hall connects to a beer garden, a 2^nd floor container semi-private event space and open-air roof deck that provide great views to the surrounding dog park and to the skyline beyond.

Outdoor dog-park amenities include a custom-built playground structure, climbing wall and water park, complete with doggy cabanas. Outdoor yard games, shade pavilions and comfortable seating are provided for dog-owners to comfortably socialize.

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The Bar-K Canine Social Club has quickly become an urban respite that not only attracts four-legged socialites and their bi-ped owners, but has also become a destination venue for food & fun seekers alike.