Vanderslice Hall

4415 Warwick Blvd.

Vanderslice Hall houses the college’s administrative offices. Located here are the president, dean of student life, vice president for academic affairs, dean of faculty and dean of special programs, as well as advancement, special events, alumni relations, auxiliary relations and communications offices.

Built in 1896, the three-story red-brick mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is considered an outstanding example of 19th century Flemish Queen Anne-style architecture. Built for the August Meyer family, who lived here for a number of years, the building is named for trustee Howard Vanderslice, who in 1927 arranged for the purchase of the home and surrounding 8.5 acres as a new location for the Kansas City Art Institute. (The campus has since expanded to encompass 15 acres.)

Café Nerman, offering espresso drinks, sandwiches, muffins and pastries, is located in Vanderslice Hall. Completed in 2003 and named in honor of Margaret and Jerry Nerman, longtime supporters of the college, Café Nerman opens onto the J.C. Nichols Patio Garden, which was dedicated in 2004. The patio garden, made possible by a gift from the Miller Nichols Charitable Foundation, is named for early-day trustee and real estate developer J.C. Nichols, who helped to ensure that the Art Institute would be located adjacent to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Adjoining Vanderslice Hall is Epperson Auditorium, scene of lectures and presentations by visiting artists and scholars as well as KCAI faculty. Funds for the building were donated in 1930 by Mrs. U.S. Epperson in memory of her husband. A major renovation of the auditorium was completed in 2004.