Professional Review Panel

Overview 

The Professional Review Panel was created to review Substantial Construction projects (other than pools and sport courts) and make a recommendation to the ARB on whether the ARB should approve, approve with stipulations, or deny the project. The ARB must agree with the Panel’s recommendation or provide sufficient justification for not following the recommendation. The Professional Review Panel consists of the City Architect, City Administrator, City Planner, and three other consulting professional architects/ designers. The submittal deadline for Substantial Construction Projects (other than pools and sport courts) is seven weeks before the ARB meeting date. The meeting with the Professional Review Panel will be scheduled once an official submittal of the project has been made and will take place before the ARB hearing of the project. There is a non-refundable fee of $2,000 that must be paid when the project is submitted to City Hall. The fee to appear before the Professional Review Panel will not be applied toward the building permit fee. The meeting with the Professional Review Panel does not take the place of the Pre-Application Conference required for new homes. The ARB meeting will remain the public hearing where neighbors and interested parties are allowed to comment and an approval or denial of the project is made.

Members 

  • Dana Gould 
  • Rebecca Riden 
  • Joy Swallow  
  • Matthew Walter 


Joy D. Swallow, FAIA, Professor + Chair Emeritus, founded and directed the Department of Architecture, Urban Planning + Design (AUP+D) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Three degree programs were housed in the department-- Architectural Studies, Urban Planning + Design and Urban Studies. AUP+D was honored in 2016 with the Trustees Award for Community Engagement at UMKC, and in 2014 the Chancellor’s Award for Community Engagement.  Named a 2011 Fellow in the American Institute of Architects, she was awarded the 2012 Leadership Award from the University of Missouri System, and Educator of the Year by the American Institute of Architects / Kansas City Chapter in 2009.  Joy holds a Master’s of Architecture, and Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. She has a Bachelor’s of Architecture from Kansas State University. She has practiced in the architectural profession in Missouri, Kansas, Philadelphia, PA, District of Columbia, and Omaha, NE, and is a registered architect.

Dana Gould
Dana, a Principal at SFS Architecture, brings over 30 years of expertise in the thoughtful stewardship of heritage properties, specializing in preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse. Guided by a deep respect for the cultural importance these buildings hold within their communities, she collaborates closely with property owners to assess historical significance and to craft adaptive strategies that balance heritage with contemporary function. Dana approaches each project with meticulous care—immersing herself in the property's history, architectural significance, and construction typology—to develop tailored solutions that ensure its continued relevance for generations to come. Dana holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Architecture from Drury University. 

Rebecca Riden
Rebecca started her firm Rebecca Riden AIA Architect in 1996. Since then she has concentrated on designing residential projects that are specifically tailored to her client’s needs, dreams and property. Specializing in new homes, renovations and additions, her award winning projects are built throughout the Midwest. Her client’s homes have been featured in the KC Star, KC Magazine, Kansas City Homes and Gardens and on HGTV’s Beyond the Box Series. Prior to starting her own firm, she gained a wide range of architectural experience working for a renowned design firm in New Mexico, a historic preservation firm in Maryland, a land and community planning firm in Virginia and multiple firms in Kansas City. Rebecca is licensed to practice in Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Michigan. In addition to running her firm, she teaches a first year Environmental Design Studio at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Department of Architecture, Urban Planning + Design.

Matthew Walter
Matthew works as an architectural designer for Bell/Knott and Associates in Leawood and lives in Prairie Village. He holds a BA in Interior Design from the American College in London, England (1988), a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Hawaii (1991), and most recently, an MFA in Theatre Design from the University of Iowa (2004). He developed his use of historical style and décor during his studies in London; studied urban planning in Hawaii, and developed an understating of traditional materials and methods of construction working in the field. With his two decades of experience, Matthew has come to understand that design should be considered from a practical perspective and not merely in isolation of the drawn plans. He has worked for various architectural firms in Kansas City; Iowa City, Chicago and New York working on commercial, educational and residential projects. He also had the privilege of teaching design at the College of Charleston, Cornell College, and the University of Iowa and spent two seasons as the Resident Scenic Designer Assistant at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.