Redefining Rooftop Luxury in Downtown Wichita
The National – Wichita, KS
Located in the heart of downtown Wichita, The National stands as one of the city’s most notable adaptive reuse developments. Originally constructed in 1955 as a commercial office tower, the historic building was reimagined into a modern luxury residential destination featuring upscale amenities, rooftop gathering spaces, and resort-style outdoor living areas.
As part of the transformation, Layr Systems was selected to provide the elevated paving support system for the new rooftop pool patio and terrace installations. The project demanded a solution that could combine architectural aesthetics, long-term durability, drainage performance, and installation efficiency — all while protecting the building’s waterproofing assembly beneath the finished surface.
The Challenge
Designing elevated outdoor amenity spaces atop an existing high-rise structure presented several critical challenges:
Maintaining precise finished elevations across varying rooftop conditions
Supporting large-format porcelain pavers in high-traffic amenity areas
Managing drainage efficiently around pool and terrace environments
Minimizing structural weight loads on the existing building
Preserving access to waterproofing systems and rooftop utilities
Delivering a modern, luxury aesthetic aligned with the redevelopment vision
Traditional mortar-set applications would have added unnecessary weight and limited future access to rooftop systems.
The Layr Systems Solution
Layr Systems supplied its LevelPro Adjustable Pedestal System to support the elevated porcelain paver assembly throughout the rooftop terrace and pool patio areas.
The LevelPro system provided installers with fast, accurate height adjustability while creating a stable and highly serviceable rooftop flooring assembly.
Products Utilized
LevelPro Adjustable Pedestal Supports
Elevated Porcelain Paver System
Integrated slope-correction and leveling accessories
The system’s adjustable pedestal technology allowed the installation team to compensate for rooftop slope variations while maintaining a perfectly level finished walking surface.
Key Benefits
Precision Leveling
The LevelPro pedestal system enabled millimeter-accurate elevation adjustments, ensuring smooth transitions and consistent surface alignment throughout the rooftop amenity spaces.
Enhanced Drainage Performance
The elevated open-joint paver assembly allows water to flow freely beneath the surface and toward drainage points, helping eliminate standing water around the pool and terrace areas.
Reduced Structural Weight
By eliminating traditional mortar beds and setting materials, the Layr Systems solution significantly reduced dead load requirements — a major advantage for rooftop applications and adaptive reuse structures.
Waterproofing Protection & Accessibility
The pedestal-supported system protects the underlying waterproofing membrane while allowing future access to drains, utilities, and roofing systems without demolition.
Luxury Architectural Finish
The completed rooftop environment delivers a sleek, modern aesthetic that complements The National’s upscale residential repositioning while providing exceptional durability and low maintenance performance.
The Result
The completed rooftop pool patio and terrace spaces now serve as signature amenities for residents at The National, transforming the historic downtown tower into a contemporary luxury living destination.
The project successfully combined:
Elevated architectural design
High-performance rooftop drainage
Durable porcelain paving systems
Long-term serviceability
Modern rooftop luxury aesthetics
Through its innovative pedestal support technology, Layr Systems helped bring new life to one of Wichita’s landmark buildings while delivering elevated outdoor spaces designed for both beauty and performance.
