architecture

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art recently selected six finalists to design new expansion plans, down from 180 submissions from around the world. Nelson President and CEO Julian Zugazagoitia and Board Chair Evelyn Belger discuss what they hope to see in a makeover of the Kansas City institution.

The six architecture firms competing to reimagine Kansas City’s premier museum had three months to dream up plans that will remake its Midtown campus. A new exhibit unveils the designs and will give the public a chance to share their thoughts.

The century-old, 54-room mansion has sat vacant for more than a decade. Now there are plans to transform the historic building, on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus, into a boutique hotel and spa.

Kansas City's crown-jewel museum launched in October a global competition to find an architectural firm for a $160 million expansion that would transform its Midtown campus. This week, museum visitors had a chance to hear from the finalists.

A 117-year-old historically-Black church in Missouri is getting much-needed restoration work thanks to a grant from the National Heritage fund — and a crew of about a dozen volunteer builders.

The "Saturday Night Live" star’s Architectural Digest tour of her Leawood home has brought attention to the Kansas City-area creatives that helped her design it.

The Kansas City art museum issued a challenge to architecture firms to design “a museum for all.” With its third evolution, museum leaders hope to respond to growing community needs and increasingly diverse visitors. They estimate a construction budget of $160 million to $170 million, to be funded by private donations.

Supporters have raised about three-fourths of the $9.5 million needed to restore the historic Orpheum Theatre. Plans call for new flooring, seats and other upgrades as part of a year-long renovation project that will start next summer.

Summer brings new challenges to making sure kids safe, busy, and away from violence — especially with youth homicides on track to set a record this year. One Kansas City club is trying to keep children and teens occupied with drum lines, movies and games. Plus: A collector who's determined to make Kansas City's antique fans cool again.

In the days before air conditioning, electric fans were how Midwesterners beat the heat. One local collector is restoring a rare set of antique fans that once cooled travelers in Kansas City’s Union Station.

Although the Midwest isn't exactly known for its medieval history, the Kansas City region has still acquired some sprawling, fortress-inspired buildings over the last 150 years. Some are well maintained and still used as homes, while others are crumbling but fascinating relics.

Whispers of a new landfill in south Kansas City have sparked a fierce opposition campaign from nearby cities and residents. But the controversy also renewed interest in where this rapidly growing city will store its waste in the years to come. Plus: A Kansas City woodworker is creating chess boards based on his hometown's iconic skyline.