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Every time you enter the space you can have a different experience.
It gives you the opportunity to be surprised to learn something.
Michelle Lehrman, Vice President, Corporate and General Services
American Century Investments partnered with Dimensional Innovations to transform its headquarters lobby into a modern, story‑driven environment that reflects the firm’s purpose‑led culture and philanthropic mission. Through a blend of immersive technology, sculptural design, and intuitive digital storytelling, the space invites visitors to explore the company’s legacy, values, and impact—including its unique ownership structure supporting the Stowers Institute. The result is a welcoming, contemporary experience that elevates the brand and deepens understanding of its commitment to improving global health.
Challenge: American Century Investments sought to elevate its headquarters with an experience that moved beyond traditional corporate design. The challenge was to create an environment that could communicate the firm’s history, culture, and philanthropic mission—especially its unique ownership structure supporting the Stowers Institute—through modern, intuitive storytelling. The space needed to feel sophisticated yet accessible, blending physical and digital elements seamlessly while offering visitors more than 25 opportunities to explore the brand’s legacy through interactive storytelling and experiential strategy.
Year
2023Location
Kansas City, MOPartners
HOKRecognition
Finalist — Digiday Content Marketing Awards, Featured in FOX, CBS, Kansas City Business Journal, MutualFundWire, Ignites, Investment News WeeklySolution: Dimensional Innovations developed a multi‑layered experiential environment that blends augmented reality, sculptural design, and generative art to tell the American Century Investments story in a modern, intuitive way. Working closely with HOK, DI created a cohesive system of physical and digital touchpoints that guide visitors through the firm’s history, culture, and philanthropic mission.
More than 25 AR‑enabled moments allow guests to explore content at their own pace, transforming the lobby into a self‑guided storytelling experience. A 15‑foot kinetic LED Cultivation Wall anchors the space with dynamic content celebrating employees and community impact, while sculptural column insets and integrated displays extend the narrative throughout the lobby. The engraved Stowers Art Wall deepens the experience by highlighting the firm’s unique ownership structure and long‑standing commitment to funding breakthrough biomedical research.
Together, these elements create a unified environment that elevates the brand, reinforces purpose, and invites visitors to engage with American Century Investments in a meaningful, memorable way.
STORYTELLING THROUGH ART
The 15‑foot Cultivation Wall serves as a dynamic centerpiece, using kinetic LED content to celebrate employees, community stories, and the values that define American Century Investments. Positioned just beyond the lobby’s glass entry, the installation blends physical form and digital motion to create a collective expression of the people who shape the organization. Its dimensional design and evolving content invite visitors to pause, explore, and connect with the firm’s culture in a meaningful way.
HISTORY BEYOND A TIMELINE WALL
Sculptural column insets guide visitors through the lobby, gently illuminating as they pass and revealing opportunities for deeper exploration. Each inset is paired with AR‑enabled storytelling, allowing guests to scan and uncover additional layers of content about the firm’s history, culture, and founders. These interactive moments extend across displays, artifacts, and brand touchpoints, creating a cohesive narrative that unfolds naturally as visitors move through the space. Close collaboration with project stakeholders ensured that materials, finishes, and digital integrations complement the lobby’s sophisticated architectural character.
Stowers Legacy Installation
The Stowers Art Wall features an engraved illustration of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, the world‑class biomedical research organization that serves as the controlling owner of American Century Investments. Embedded brass icons allow visitors to scan and explore stories about the Institute’s mission, its founders James and Virginia Stowers, and the firm’s long‑standing commitment to funding breakthrough scientific discovery. Designed to be both elegant and informative, the installation anchors the space with a powerful reminder of the company’s purpose‑driven legacy.
Brand Moments + Sculpture
Additional brand moments echo throughout the lobby, including dimensional quote walls, an awards display, and a sculptural installation honoring founder James Stowers Jr. The mirrored piece is composed of 34 rows of reflective elements that shift and catch light, creating a cascading form that symbolizes Mr. Stowers’ enduring belief in community impact and human connection. These elements extend the narrative beyond digital touchpoints, reinforcing the firm’s values through artful, architectural expression
Every element within the headquarters was intentionally designed to foster a sense of community, warmth, and trust. The experience showcases the brand’s story in a modern, intuitive way while creating an environment that resonates with both longtime employees and the next generation of talent. By blending art, technology, and architectural expression, the space strengthens connection, reinforces purpose, and positions American Century Investments as a forward‑thinking, people‑centered organization.
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