Kansas City, KS – The doors have officially opened at Babe’s Place at Friendship Inn, a heartfelt and meaningful addition to the Kansas City, Kansas, community. Designed by Rosemann & Associates, P.C., this brand-new lodging facility is made possible through the heartfelt generosity of lead donor Frank Thompson, who funded the construction in loving memory of his late wife, Evangeline “Babe” Thompson, with whom he shared 66 wonderful years of marriage. The project is also the result of a long-term collaboration between dedicated donors, compassionate community advocates, and the University of Kansas Health Center.
Located at 4325 Rainbow Blvd., Babe’s Place at Friendship Inn serves as a welcoming retreat for families receiving treatment at The University of Kansas Health System. For more than 25 years, the original Friendship Inn—an intimate, converted four-bedroom home—provided affordable, short-term lodging for out-of-town patients and their loved ones. Babe’s Place at Friendship Inn expands on that mission with modern upgrades and greatly increased capacity.
Designed for Comfort and Care
The new facility features 18 fully furnished guest suites, including 6 studio units and 12 one-bedroom units. Each suite includes a private bathroom and a small refrigerator to store snacks or medications—simple features that offer comfort. Guests can also enjoy both private and communal areas, as well as secure parking in a private lot behind the building.
Babe’s Place at Friendship Inn includes two accessible units and two units specifically designed for the vision-impaired, exceeding code requirements to ensure all guests feel welcome and accommodated.
Built with Purpose, Backed by Community
Babe’s Place at Friendship Inn totals approximately 15,600 gross square feet across two stories, including a basement level with a storm shelter—thoughtfully designed to serve as a comforting home-away-from-home for families in need. This meaningful new construction project was made possible through the collaboration of a dedicated team, including Rosemann & Associates, P.C., which served as both architect and structural engineer, with contributions from Don and Scott Rosemann, Erin Morris, Jack Young, and Felipe Medrano.
Additional project partners include owner/developer, Friendship Inn KC, Inc.; general contractor, McCown Gordon Construction; MEP engineer, Latimer Sommers & Associates, P.A.; civil, Engineering Solutions; and interior designer, Pulse Design Group.
President/CEO Scott Rosemann summed up the spirit of the project best: “People will have a nice place to stay that’s affordable and comfortable. We are proud to have played a role in delivering a place of rest, relief, and healing.”