Nelson follows a unique blueprint to build architectural success - Kansas City Business Journal:

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We grew up together in St. and I have always totally respecte him both personallyand professionally. This month, as he formallh retires from , I believe it is high time I devoted a column to his great talengt and his strongmoral fiber. Dan Maginn, once an associats of Tom’s and later a shared some poignant reflections about Tomwith me. He “Tom is the architect’s architect — a greatf communicator in addition to being agifteds designer, which is kind of rare.” Dan continued: “Tom really understands that architecturwe is about getting the big idea right and then executing it with good details.
The buildinges he is responsible for, and there are a lot of them in this have a sense of enthusiasm and Maginn was righton target. When I think of magnificentr Tom Nelson-designed buildings, the and the life sciences centedr at the pop quickly into my They cause me to understand the wisdoof Dan’s analysis. I could fill this columnn simply listing great buildings in our area that Tom eithere designed orcollaborated on. Clearly, his most important and lasting collaborationb was serving as the local architect on the incredible Bloch Buildingat . Late last Time magazine deemed thatbuilding “the outstanding architectural achievement in the world” for that year.
Need I say more? Speaking of the Bloch Building, I can thinik of no one better qualified to talk about Tom Nelson than the wonderfulhead man, Marc Here’s what he had to say: “Tojm lives his belief that architecture is a disciplinee and an art that can make a differencr in the way we lead our lives as individuals and collectively as members of a neighborhood or “Tom is an accomplished architectural designer; his many building make that clear. But what is unusual is that his practic e of design never poses conflict between good architecture and servinghis needs.
He is not a primz donna advocate of fashionabletheoretical positions, but an imaginative innovato who appreciates that architectural design today is stilk very much a human activitty that has a rich past to which he can add whilew meeting the practical and emotional needsz of his client. Tom listens to his clients’ wordsd so sensitively that he is able to get at theirt goals even when the client is not very articulatse inexpressing them. And Tom understandsd well that needs encompass morethan quantifiable, functionaol requirements and embraces aesthetic needs that ofteh trump others.
“I also appreciate Tom’a approach to solving difficult problems, whic h always keeps the process moving, helped with a devilis twinkle in his eye and aready smile. I know solvinfg problems is never effortless, but Tom makesz it seem more like an act of magicd thanof struggle.” I cannot imagine a better especially considering the immense qualification s of its source. Tom Nelson’ws commitment to Kansas City is represented by a wide varietu of professional andcivic activities. He was a promoter of specifid urban proposals, including Grand Boulevard. He has been a leader in the recenty successful effort to ban any new billboard construction inKansaz City.
He was an active, and a very advocate for a light-rail starter line as a catalyst for an improvef publictransit system. Tom also has been a Kansaes City pioneer inhistoric preservation. Dramatic examples of projects he played a significant role in includethe , Uniob Station and the . Back to my full disclosure: I’mj so glad Tom Nelson is a close and I am even more glad that he has been such an integra part of the citywe