Flarsheim Hall

Flarsheim Hall was completed in1999 to be the new home of several of UMKC's engineering and science programs. It is named for Robert Flarsheim, a long-time neighbor and supporter of UMKC, who left the university an $8.7 million gift upon his death in 1994. The building allowed the university to consolidate its engineering and science programs, which were housed on the university's Independence campus and in various local buildings. Today Flarsheim Hall is home to UMKC's School of Science and Engineering and such departments as Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Geosciences and Physics.

UMKC's engineering programs were originally run in conjunction with the University of Missouri-Columbia as a satellite program on UMKC's Independence Campus. This caused numerous logistical problems over the years since the program relied on Mizzou faculty who could commute between the two campuses on a regular basis. Also, the majority of the engineering courses were housed on UMKC's Independence Campus, while math and science courses were on the Volker Campus. Students had to commute between the two campuses. In order to alleviate these concerns, UMKC began a push in the early 1990s to create a building on the Volker Campus to house its engineering programs as well as units such as Geosciences and Physics, which had outgrown their original facilities.

In 1997, UMKC broke ground on its new $30 Million science and engineering building. The state legislature provided about $22 Million via a bond measure with $8 Million coming from private gifts. The building was completed in 1999 and provided more than enough space for the university's science and engineering programs. In 2000, the UM Curators approved the creation of UMKC's own engineering program and UMKC founded the School of Computing and Engineering (now named the School of Science and Engineering). The building was named Flarsheim Hall in honor of Robert Flarsheim, a long-time neighbor and supporter of the university.

Robert Flarsheim moved to his home at 5104 Cherry, adjacent to the University of Kansas City in the late 1940s. He owned a successful wholesale grocery business. To his south was the university's chancellor's residence and over the years Flarsheim became friends with a succession of the university's chancellors. To his north was the university's one residence hall. He and his wife never had children and in many ways the staff and students of UMKC became his family, especially after his wife Blanda's death. He loved to walk the campus and engage with students to ask their opinions about the news of the day and he could be frequently found at UMKC's cultural and athletic events. Mr. Flarsheim was a major donor to UMKC giving generously to athletics, the libraries, the School of Dentistry, the Cockefair Chair and scholarships. He was also a founding member of the University Associates, a group of influential Kansas City Businesspeople, who sought to strengthen the ties between UMKC and the business community.

In 1969, Flarsheim donated his home and property to UMKC in honor of his friendship with former UMKC Chancellor Carleton Scofield. The gift provided that he and his wife be allowed to live in the home as long as he wanted. The university took over maintenance responsibilities for the home and helped look after him, especially in his later years when he lived alone. His home was eventually moved several blocks east to Kansas City's Troostwood neighborhood in 2009 to make way for the UMKC Student Union. In 1993, the UMKC Alumni Association named Mr. Flarsheim an honorary alumnus in appreciation for all he done. When he passed away in 1994, UMKC mourned a true friend and was amazed to discover that Flarsheim had bequeathed his entire fortune of $8.7 Million to the university. The gift became known as the Flarsheim fund and its provisions state that the university can only use the money for campus beautification projects. Flarsheim loved to walk the UMKC Volker Campus, especially on the quad, where he asked that his ashes be spread. He recognized the park-like setting and landscaping of the campus as one of its hallmarks. His gift seeks to preserve this.

In 1999, UMKC commissioned a bust of Robert Flarsheim from Kansas City Artist Tom Corbin to sit in front of the building named in his honor. Corbin unveiled the statue during the dedication ceremony for Flarsheim Hall on April 11, 2000. The bust depicts Mr. Flarsheim as he was often seen around campus, casually dressed with his signature cap. Flanking the bust is a wall inscribed with the names of others who have donated to the Flarsheim Fund in honor of Robert Flarsheim and his legacy of support for UMKC.

In 2004, in celebration of UMKC's new School of Computing and Engineering, the American Institute of Steel Construction gifted a statue called Blue Steel to adorn the front entryway of Flarsheim Hall. The piece contains 25 individual members and demonstrates all the different ways that steel beams can be connected. These can be difficult to visualize in a textbook diagram and so Blue Steel doubles as a teaching aid.

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In Memorian: Louis H. Ehlrich Jr.; Robert Flarsheim. Perspectives. September 1st, 1994.

O'Laughlin, Joel. "Flarsheim Hall dedicated." The Unews (Kansas City) April 17th, 2000. .

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