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Architect Known For Designing Stadiums Now Working To Revitalize Kansas City

By Steve Kraske,

Published May 14, 2021 at 8:30 PM CDT

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A rendering of the part of Troost Village along Troost Avenue between Linwood Boulevard and 31st Street — The ongoing Troost Village project at Linwood Avenue and 31st Street is just one of several involving Jonathan Cole's architecture firm Pendulum KC.

Jonathan Cole is the principal of one of the few Black-owned architecture firms in the nation.

Cole got his start with stadiums on an arena project originally meant for the Oakland A's baseball team. After building 22 minor league baseball parks, he's branching out with projects like Troost Village at Linwood Avenue and 31st Street in Kansas City, Missouri. For Cole, the most gratifying thing about being an architect is "designing something that's going to stand for, could be, a hundred years."

Jonathan Cole, principal, Pendulum KC

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Reginald David

As an assistant producer on Up To Date, my goal is to amplify voices of people who serve as pioneers in their respective fields while shedding light on issues that affect underserved communities. I produce daily conversations to uplift and inspire the people of the Kansas City area to make the world a better place. You can reach me at reginalddavid@kcur.org.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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