Kansas City, Mo ? A 35-story art deco building that helps define the city’s skyline with its distinctive twin towers could become the tallest apartment tower in Missouri.

Housing Horizons, a subsidiary of Kimberly-Clark, has asked 20 architects to submit plans to transform the long-vacant former Fidelity National Bank building at 911 Walnut St. into 200 apartments, commercial space, a health club and a rooftop garden.

“Kimberly-Clark is seriously weighing a transaction but won’t make a commitment until the feasibility analysis is completed,” Susanne Voeltz, spokeswoman for 911 Walnut LLC, the proposed development group, said Tuesday.

The decision whether to proceed with the project is expected by early June. If approved, the developer expects construction would begin this year and that the project would be completed in 2004.

The 433-foot building was completed in 1931 as the economy soured. And the Great Depression quickly forced Fidelity out of business. Federal offices filled the building for many years before moving out in 1995.