Bridge Space Accepts Preserve Missouri Award

Amber Monaco • May 3, 2019

This blog post was written by Kelsey Ingram, a Bridge Space intern.

I think we all know Bridge Space is not your average coworking space, coaching mecca, and entrepreneurial incubator. 

In case you were on the line about how cool we are, we have big news.

We are now an award-winning coworking space, coaching mecca, and entrepreneurial incubator. 

In April 2019, Bridge Space accepted the Preserve Missouri Award by the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation. The award was presented to Bridge Space President and Founder, Ben Rao on April 30, 2019, in Jefferson City.

The Preserve Missouri Award is an annual statewide award presented to locations around Missouri that have preserved and enhanced historical buildings. Bridge Space was recognized for our efforts in preserving the old Lee’s Summit Post Office. 

For a bit of background, our building was one of the “Thousand Series” Post Office buildings, an architectural staple in the 1960s. This design thrived on one-story layouts with flat roofs whose mailboxes were separated from the service lobby enabling easy access during non-business hours. If you have ever stopped by Bridge Space, you may have noticed the Post Office relics around the office. When you walk in our lobby, you are greeted by an original stone wall adorned with a Post Office plaque. Your eye is then drawn to the golden mailboxes, which are available for you to rent to have an actual street address for your business. The old workroom still embodies its open-area feel and has been transformed into the Events Space. 

The open feel of the building is adorned with glass doors and windows in the offices. The “secret” hallways, ladders, and an abundance of one-way mirrors in the Observatory are now a new, second floor with 5 offices. Finally, the old Post Office vault – one of the coolest rooms – is now the podcast studio. 

So yeah, some would say our building is pretty cool. 

As Bridge Space heads into our first summer, we are proud to look back at what we have already achieved in such little time. Since opening the doors in September 2018, Bridge Space has welcomed 6,000 visitors and houses more than 70 businesses. The adaptive reuse of the former postal facility located at 210 SW Market St., Lee’s Summit, Mo 64063 is a resource for the entire community. 

We are honored to accept the 2019 Preserve Missouri Award.

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