Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
Product brand
UnclaimedA large convention-oriented Sheraton hotel in Kansas City's Crown Center complex.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center is a high-rise hotel in the Crown Center complex of Kansas City, Missouri. The property opened on July 1, 1980, as the Hyatt Regency Kansas City and was developed as part of the Crown Center district built by Hallmark Cards near the company's headquarters. Its 45-story tower rises approximately 504 feet, making it one of Kansas City's most prominent buildings. The hotel was Missouri's tallest building from 1980 until 1986 and remains among the tallest structures in both the state and the city. The property became internationally known because of the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse on July 17, 1981. During a tea dance attended by more than 1,600 people, an atrium walkway gave way and fell onto another walkway below. The disaster killed 114 people and exposed serious failures in the design and approval of the walkway's supporting tie-rod system. Investigations found that the installed structural arrangement did not satisfy Kansas City building-code requirements. The collapse became a major case study in structural engineering, professional responsibility, building inspection, and organizational communication. After the disaster, the hotel underwent a reconstruction reported at approximately $5 million. The original skywalk arrangement was replaced with a large second-floor balcony supported by substantial columns. Local officials later described the reconstructed building as possibly among the safest in the country. The property continued operating under the Hyatt name and was renamed Hyatt Regency Crown Center in 1987. Starwood Hotels and Resorts took over the hotel on November 30, 2011. It was renamed Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center the following day, accompanied by a planned renovation program reported at approximately $30 million. Starwood also announced a $5,000 contribution to The Skywalk Memorial Foundation. Following Marriott International's acquisition of Starwood, the hotel became part of Marriott's broader lodging portfolio through the Sheraton brand. The hotel is positioned primarily for business travel, conventions, meetings, and large social events, while also serving leisure visitors to Kansas City. Its reported facilities include approximately 733 guestrooms, 42 suites, and about 42,860 square feet of function space. The property includes a ballroom of roughly 17,487 square feet and a dedicated exhibit hall of approximately 15,360 square feet. It formerly operated the revolving rooftop restaurant Skies and the Peppercorn Duck Club; both closed in 2011 when the property changed operators, and the former Skies space was subsequently used as a Sheraton Club Lounge. Its combination of location, scale, meeting capacity, and historical significance distinguishes it from an ordinary city hotel.
History
Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center is a 45-story hotel tower in Kansas City's Crown Center complex. The building was developed as part of the Crown Center district created by Hallmark Cards adjacent to its headquarters and opened on July 1, 1980, as Hyatt Regency Kansas City. At approximately 504 feet, it was Missouri's tallest building from 1980 to 1986 and became a major feature of the city's skyline and convention infrastructure. The hotel's defining historical event occurred on July 17, 1981. A suspended walkway in the atrium collapsed onto a lower walkway during a tea dance attended by more than 1,600 people. The failure killed 114 people. Subsequent investigation identified deficiencies in the walkway's tie-rod support arrangement and found that the installed design did not comply with Kansas City building codes. The disaster prompted extensive scrutiny of the responsibilities of engineers, contractors, building officials, and project organizations. It has since been widely used as an engineering and safety case study. The property was reconstructed after the collapse in work reported to have cost about $5 million. The former skywalk arrangement was removed and replaced with a large second-floor balcony supported by massive pillars. Local authorities stated in 1983 that the reconstructed building was possibly the safest in the country. The hotel continued under the Hyatt system and adopted the name Hyatt Regency Crown Center in 1987. Starwood Hotels and Resorts took over the property on November 30, 2011. The building was renamed Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center the next day, and the new operator announced approximately $30 million in renovations. Starwood also announced a $5,000 donation to The Skywalk Memorial Foundation. Marriott International's later acquisition of Starwood placed the property within Marriott's hotel portfolio, although the property remains identified with the Sheraton brand. The hotel operates as a full-service business and convention property. Reported facilities include 733 guestrooms, 42 suites, about 42,860 square feet of meeting and event space, a roughly 17,487-square-foot ballroom, and a dedicated exhibit hall of approximately 15,360 square feet. Its former revolving rooftop restaurant, Skies, and the Peppercorn Duck Club closed in 2011; the former Skies location was converted into a Sheraton Club Lounge. The hotel's scale, Crown Center location, meeting facilities, and association with the 1981 disaster are central to its identity.
- 2011
Conversion to Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center
[1]Starwood assumed control, changed the hotel's name, announced renovations, and made a donation to The Skywalk Memorial Foundation.
- 1987
Hyatt Regency Crown Center name adopted
[1]The property was renamed Hyatt Regency Crown Center.
- 1983
Reconstruction follows the disaster
[1]The original skywalk configuration was replaced with a reinforced second-floor balcony supported by large pillars.
- 1981
Hyatt Regency walkway collapse
[1]An atrium walkway collapse during a tea dance killed 114 people and led to a major investigation into structural design and code compliance.
- 1980
Hotel opens as Hyatt Regency Kansas City
[1]The 45-story hotel opened on July 1 within the Crown Center complex.
Products and positioning
Full-service urban business, convention, and leisure hotel
Accommodation · 1980
Guestrooms and suites
The hotel provides approximately 733 guestrooms, including 42 suites, serving business travelers, convention attendees, and leisure visitors staying in Kansas City.
Meetings and events · 1980
Convention and meeting facilities
The property offers approximately 42,860 square feet of function space, including a large ballroom and a dedicated exhibit hall. These facilities support conventions, corporate meetings, exhibitions, weddings, and other large gatherings.
Hospitality services · 1980
Food and beverage services
The hotel has provided on-property dining and beverage services during its different operating eras. The former Skies revolving rooftop restaurant and Peppercorn Duck Club closed in 2011, while the former Skies space became a Sheraton Club Lounge.
Controversies
1981
Hyatt Regency walkway collapse
On July 17, 1981, an atrium walkway collapsed onto another walkway during a tea dance, killing 114 people. Investigators found that the supporting tie-rod arrangement did not meet Kansas City building-code requirements. The event led to reconstruction of the atrium and became a lasting case study in structural engineering and professional accountability.
Brand decisions
2011
Change from Hyatt to Sheraton operationM&ABackground
Starwood Hotels and Resorts took over the property after its Hyatt operating period.
Action taken
Starwood renamed the hotel Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center and announced a substantial renovation program.
Aftermath
The property entered the Sheraton portfolio and later became part of Marriott International's hotel system through Marriott's acquisition of Starwood.
Announced renovation investment. $30 million (2011 announcement)
1983
Rebuild the atrium walkway systemStrategyBackground
The original suspended walkway system had collapsed in 1981, causing a large loss of life and exposing design and code-compliance failures.
Action taken
The property replaced the former skywalk arrangement with a large second-floor balcony supported by substantial pillars.
Aftermath
The reconstructed building was described by local authorities as possibly the safest in the country, and the reconstruction became part of the property's long-term history.
Reconstruction cost. $5 million (Post-1981 reconstruction)
Recent events
- 2011
Starwood assumes control and introduces Sheraton identity[1]
M&A · Product launch · Other
Starwood took over the property on November 30 and renamed it Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center on December 1, while announcing a major renovation program.
- 1987
Property renamed Hyatt Regency Crown Center[1]
Other
The hotel changed its name from Hyatt Regency Kansas City to Hyatt Regency Crown Center.
- 1983
Post-collapse reconstruction completed[1]
Other
The hotel underwent a major reconstruction, including replacement of the original walkway arrangement with a balcony supported by large columns.
- 1980
Hyatt Regency Kansas City opens in Crown Center[1]
Other
The high-rise hotel opened on July 1 as Hyatt Regency Kansas City within the Crown Center complex.
Sources1 sources
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