Kansas City, Missouri, USA, is known for many famous and interesting buildings. The skyline of Downtown Kansas City is notable for many famous structures such as Bartle Hall Convention Center, the Power and Light Building, the KCTV Tower, and Liberty Memorial. Flag Seal Nickname: City of Fountains or Heart of America Location Location in Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in the state of Missouri. ... Official language(s) None Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St. ... Downtown Kansas City, Missouri is defined by the Downtown Council and City Hall officials as to include the entire area from the Missouri River, south to 31st Street ; and from I-35 east to Bruce Watkins Drive (U.S. Highway 71). ... The Bartle Hall Convention Center (often referred to as the Kansas City Convention Center or simply Bartle Hall) is a major expository pavillion in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It is named for Harold Roe Bartle, a prominent, two-term mayor of Kansas City in the 1950s and early 1960s. ... KCTV (channel 5, DTV 24), KCTV5 is the CBS affiliate television station in the Kansas City Designated market area. ...

Image File history File links P&Ltower. ...

Early architecture

The first skyscraper in Kansas City was the New York Life Building, completed in 1888. It stands twelve floors tall at a height of 180 feet (54.8 meters). After the New York Life Building was completed, Kansas City followed the national trend of constructing a plethora of buildings in construction of buildings above ten stories. Within fifty years of the building's construction, over fifty buildings over ten floors were built in and around downtown. Image File history File links Newyorklifebuilding. ... Taipei 101, the worlds tallest building since its completion in 2004, is located in Taipei. ... 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ...

Art Deco, Terra Cotta and Gothic styles

Kansas City underwent an early skyscraper boom between 1920 and 1940. During this time, notable skyscrapers such as the Power and Light Building, Oak Tower, City Hall, the Jackson County Court House, the Bryant Building, and the Fidelity National Bank building were constructed. The Power and Light Building became the sign of prosperity and was a known face of Kansas City for many years after its construction. Today, many of these buildings are being renovated for various uses, from residential lofts to office spaces. Oak Tower was once a building filled with terra cotta and gothic architecture. In an effort to modernize the then-40-year-old building in the 1970s, however, Southwestern Bell tore down and placed cladding over its gargoyles. 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 3 - Babe Ruth is traded by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for $125,000, the largest sum ever paid for a player at that time. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Terra cotta is a hard semifired waterproof ceramic clay used in pottery and building construction. ... See also Gothic art. ... SBC may refer to— St. ... A gargoyle adorning Dornoch Cathedral in Scotland. ...

Modern and Post-Modern Architecture

The 1970s through 1990s brought many new buildings and high-rises to Kansas City. The Hyatt Regency at Crown Center is a 45-story hotel built toward the beginning of Crown Center's establishment. On July 17, 1981, two skybridges in the hotel collapsed, causing 111 fatalities and 188 injuries. It was the worst non-natural disaster in the history of the State of Missouri. Crown Center is a shopping and entertainment complex operated by the Hallmark corporation and located adjacent to the companys headquarters in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. ... July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Model walking down catwalk This article refers to catwalks used by fashion models. ...

In the 1980s, as the nation moved from "modern" style of architecture (as inspired by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe), building large, boxy structures, to a "postmodern" style. The two most noticeable postmodern buildings in the Kansas City skyline are the Town Pavilion (built in 1986) and One Kansas City Place (1988). One Kansas City Place is a taller, glass version of City Hall. The 632-foot-tall (192.6 meters) structure is the tallest habitable structure in Missouri (even taller than the Gateway Arch in St. Louis). Modern architecture is a broad term given to a number of building styles with similar characteristics, primarily the simplification of form and the elimination of ornament, that first arose around 1900. ... The reconstructed German Pavilion in Barcelona Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (born Maria Ludwig Michael Mies) (March 27, 1886 – August 17, 1969) was a German architect. ... San Antonio Public Library, Texas. ... The Town Pavilion from the corner of 12th and Baltimore. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... One Kansas City Place, the tallest habitable structure in Missouri One Kansas City Place is a skyscraper in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA, built in 1988. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Old Courthouse sits at the heart of the city of Saint Louis, with the arch to the east, near the rivers edge. ... Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates: Country State County United States Missouri Independent City Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Area    - City 66. ...

Original Kansas City Architecture

Kansas City's most profound influence on national architecture is the Kansas City-style of stadium that first originated with the Kivett & Myers 1967 design for the Truman Sports Complex for the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. In era when new stadiums were huge multiuse arenas, Kivett & Myers proposed baseball and football have their own arenas with dimensions most favorable to their sports and then covered with a rolling roof. Virtually all major league ballparks and stadiums since then have followed that model and most have been designed by one of two Kansas City architect firms that trace their stadium business roots to Kivett -- HOK Sport + Venue + Event and HNTB. The firms headquarters are a few blocks apart in Downtown Kansas City. Kivett & Meyers was a Kansas City, Missouri architecture firm that pioneered the design of modern professional sports stadiums. ... The Truman Sports Complex is a facility located in Kansas City, Missouri. ... City Kansas City, Missouri Team colors Red, Yellow, and White Head Coach Herman Edwards Owner Lamar Hunt General manager Carl Peterson Mascot K.C. Wolf Local radio Flagship stations: 101. ... Major league affiliations American League (1969-present) Central Division (1994-present) Current uniform Ballpark Kauffman Stadium (1973-present) Major league titles World Series titles (1) 1985 AL Pennants (2) 1985 â€¢ 1980 Central Division titles (0) None West Division titles (6) [1] 1985 â€¢ 1984 â€¢ 1980 â€¢ 1978 1977 â€¢ 1976 Wild card berths... HOK Sport + Venue + Event, a division of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum, is an architectural practice specializing in the design of public assembly spaces and planning of major special events. ... HNTB Corporation (formerly Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff) is an architecture and engineering firm based in Kansas City, Missouri that built many bridges and professional ball stadiums across the United States and around the world. ... Downtown Kansas City, Missouri is defined by the Downtown Council and City Hall officials as to include the entire area from the Missouri River, south to 31st Street ; and from I-35 east to Bruce Watkins Drive (U.S. Highway 71). ...

The most distinctive feature of modern Kansas City buildings is the use of fountains. Kansas City calls itself the City of Fountains and has more than 200 fountains (with the claim that only Rome, Italy has more fountains). The logo for the city is in fact a fountain. Virtually every major building sports a fountain with one of the most famous being the ones at Kauffman Stadium. Even car dealerships get into the act showing off their SUV's on top of a fountain. The Roman Colosseum Rome (Italian and Latin Roma) is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. ... A logotype (from the Greek λογότυπο), commonly known as a logo, is the graphic element, symbol, and icon of a trademark or brand, which is set in a special typeface or arranged in a particular way. ... Kauffman Stadium (formerly Royals Stadium) is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. ...

Future buildings

Since 2000, Downtown Kansas City has undergone a virtual renaissance. During the 1950s and 1960s, as many Downtown residents moved south and north to Kansas City's sprawling suburbs, Downtown's population dwindled. By the 1980s, Downtown included almost only office towers, with few thriving neighborhoods remaining. Today, however, major downtown redevelopment has brought back thousands of residents, and with them has come a need for more buildings and more density. This article is about the year 2000. ... Downtown Kansas City, Missouri is defined by the Downtown Council and City Hall officials as to include the entire area from the Missouri River, south to 31st Street ; and from I-35 east to Bruce Watkins Drive (U.S. Highway 71). ... Raphael was famous for depicting illustrious figures of the Classical past with the features of his Renaissance contemporaries. ... In recent years, Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA, has been undergoing a massive boom in renovations and new construction. ...

In the winter of 2004, H&R Block announced the construction of a 17-story tower downtown as its new headquarters. When completed, the tower will serve as the anchor of a six-block entertainment district neighboring the Central Business District. This project hopes to bring additional entertainment, jobs and housing to Downtown, and includes five new skyscrapers within it. At least five to six other new skyscrapers have also been proposed for Downtown. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) is a tax preparation and personal finance management company founded by brothers Henry W. and Richard Bloch in Kansas City in 1955 (they changed the name of the company to prevent mispronunciation). ...

Local architectural firms have major contracts with these and other new proposals, the two biggest (currently under construction) are the Power and Light District, designed by Cordish Company of Baltimore, Maryland, and the 18,500-seat Sprint Center arena. Nickname: Monument City, Charm City, Mob Town, B-more Motto: Get In On It (formerly The City That Reads and The Greatest City in America; BELIEVE is not the official motto but rather a specific campaign) Location of Baltimore in Maryland Coordinates: Country State County United States Maryland Independent City... The Sprint Center is a large multi-use indoor arena being built in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, located at 13th Street and Grand Avenue [2]. It is scheduled to be completed in October of 2007 and is expected to seat 18,500 people and have 72 suites. ...

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is also building a new headquarters, which will be located southwest of Crown Center. Front of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City covers the 10th District of the Federal Reserve, which includes Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and portions of western Missouri and northern New Mexico. ... Crown Center is a shopping and entertainment complex operated by the Hallmark corporation and located adjacent to the companys headquarters in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. ...

See Also: Downtown Kansas City Redevelopment In recent years, Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA, has been undergoing a massive boom in renovations and new construction. ...

Notable Skyscrapers

Kansas City's skyline may not be as recognizable to many people in the same was as other as cities such as St. Louis, New York or Chicago, Illinois, but the blending of a century of architecture has made it a heralded skyline nonetheless. Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the state of New York and the entire United States. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ...

The skyscrapers of Kansas City number 50-60 in the Country Club Plaza as well as around 100 in the Downtown area: Kansas Citys Country Club Plaza The Country Club Plaza (often referred to as the Plaza) is an upscale shopping district and registered neighborhood centered around 55 acres (223,000 m²) in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It was the first shopping center in the world designed to accommodate the automobile. ...

Image File history File links Townpavilion. ... One Kansas City Place, the tallest habitable structure in Missouri One Kansas City Place is a skyscraper in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA, built in 1988. ... The Town Pavilion from the corner of 12th and Baltimore. ...

Historical Buildings under restoration

Along with Downtown's redevelopment and revitalization, many older buildings are being restored to their former mystique. Below is a list of celebrated buildings from a variety of eras that have been or are being renovated.

Landmark Tower/One Park Place

This building is formerly known as the BMA Building. It is located south of downtown, at the intersection of Southwest Boulevard and 31st Street, directly across from the Fox 4 News building and towers. Image File history File links Landmarktower. ... WDAF TV Channel 4 is The Fox Owned & Operated Television station for The Kansas City Market. ...

Built in 1964, Landmark Tower was originally designed by architects at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, who also designed the Plaza Center Building at 800 West 47th Street. Its structural grid, which is clad in white Georgian marble, is projected out in front of the actual building. 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Shaklee Terraces, San Francisco, designed in 1982 with a flush aluminum facade and rounded corners. ...

Landmark Tower also earned the First Honor Award in 1964 from the American Institute of Architects. It was also featured in a 1965 exhibit by New York's Museum of Modern Art. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the professional organization for architects in the United States. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... View across garden, in new MoMA building by Yoshio Taniguchi. ...

Since 2003, the renovation has begun. The only opposition occurred when developers wanted to build additional residential facilities inside the park adjacent to the tower. The developers from One Park Place have stated that the tower will hold between 150 and 200 residential units. Gastinger Walker Harden Architects is working with the developers on the renovations, respecting the original design, which was inspired by Mies van der Rohe's postmodern "international" style. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (born Maria Ludwig Michael Mies) (March 27, 1886 - August 17, 1969) was an architect and designer. ...

The View

"The View" is also known as the Vista Del Rio Apartments. Located at 600 Admiral Boulevard, it was originally completed in 1967. The architects of this building were John L. Daw & Associates. It was originally built to inspire urban renewal in that area, which for a long time had been very dilapidated. After a period of misuse, the building itself fell into deep disrepair. After much of its glass had been removed, it began to be used by more "troublesome" citizens. By the 1990s, maintenance and care became so bad that graffiti appeared throughout structure and, unfortunately, even human remains were found around the premises. 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ...

Many predicted the destruction of this neglected building, but at the beginning of current downtown redevelopment, its future became much brighter. The Vista Del Rio became the View, turning it from a public nuisance to a magnet for people wishing anew to live downtown.

Fidelity Bank and Trust/909 Walnut

This building is located at 909 Walnut Street (formerly 911 Walnut Street), in the north of Downtown's Central Business District. Constructed in 1931 (at the same time as the Power and Light Building), it is 35 storeys tall. 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ...

Originally built to replace the Fidelity National Bank and Trust Building that had formerly existed on that site, it was designed by Hoit, Price and Barnes Architects, the same firm that designed the Power and Light Building. It won a local American Institute of Architects award in the 1930s during its construction. The twin towers that grace its top resemble those of famous buildings around the United States, such as 900 North Michigan in Chicago (built in 1989), or the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City (built in 1931). Waldorf=Astoria hotel This article is about the hotel. ...

The building once had a large clock in its north tower, but that has long since been removed.

In 2003, several proposals arose to turn this building into a residential tower. Three years later construction continues, but for the most part, the renovation is complete. The building now houses 150-180 residential units, complete with rooftop terraces for its two multimillion-dollar penthouses.

Buildings proposed / under construction / envisioned

• Asterick-True heights not known, estimated from renderings

Recently completed buildings

Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings

Frank Lloyd Wright designed three buildings currently standing in the Kansas City area. Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was one of the most prominent and influential architects of the first half of the 20th century. ...

Community Christian Church

This Frank Lloyd Wright building sits across from the Country Club Plaza's main shopping district, it is location on Main at East 46th Street. In April 1940, the church came to Frank Lloyd Wright and asked him to design a new church for them after their last building burned down. The design also had some features from his last building for the Johnson Wax Company, but this had one unique feature planned for it, a spire of light. This spire of light can be seen for miles around Kansas City, and even can be spotted 30 miles or more north of the Plaza depending on conditions. It has been calculated to stop at least 3 miles up above the earth, that is about half the maximum height that jet airplanes fly at. During the Plaza lighting ceremony, this is one of the main features of the lighting, and people can stand on the building's roof or balconies and overlook the Plaza and the light as they are all lit in unison. Unfortunately, Frank Lloyd Wright couldn't see this "Spire of Light" be completed, as the conditions in the 1940s didn't allow for it to be completed. However in the late 20th century, they finally completed the Spire of Light and now it is lit regularly, mostly on holidays, some Fridays, and the Plaza Lighting Ceremony.

External links

• KC Skyscrapers

The City of Kansas City
History • Architecture • Downtown • Economy • Barbeque • Jazz • Broadcast Media • Film • Neighborhoods • Metropolitan area