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In this section
Industry Profiles
KC Careers
Architecture / Engineering
Kansas City is a hot bed for architecture, engineering and construction services. Five area architectural and engineering firms rank among the top 50 most successful in the U.S. by Engineering News-Record magazine.
Made in KC
Kansas City architects are literally changing the landscape of the planet.
- Populous is the world leader in stadium design with 14 of the world’s most impressive stadiums in Hong Kong, Sydney (host of the 2000 Summer Olympics), San Francisco, St. Louis and Pittsburgh. The firm also designed new stadiums for the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Washington Nationals, as well as the 2010 World Cup Soccer stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. In the works today is the new stadium for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
- BNIM has been recognized globally for its leadership in sustainable design. The firm has led efforts to revitalize and rebuild in Greensburg, Kansas and built sustainable homes as part of the Make it Right effort in New Orleans. BNIM’s Omega Center for Sustainable Living in Rhinebeck, New York received the industry’s best-known award for sustainable design excellence from the American Institute of Architects in 2010.
- Top national architecture and engineering firms like Burns & McDonnell, Ellerbe Beckett (an AECOM Company), Black & Veatch, 360 Architecture, Hoefer Wysocki Architects and HNTB are involved in a variety of nationally and internationally significant projects from downtown arenas to energy plants, retail developments, government facilities and airports.
- A host of exciting up-and-comers including el dorado, Helix, and Gould Evans are helping to further solidify Kansas City’s spot as a leader in the world of architecture.
Professional Organizations
- The American Association of Blacks in Energy
- American Institute of Architects Kansas City
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers – Kansas City Section
- International Facility Management Association – Kansas City
- International Interior Design Association
- Kansas City Commercial Real Estate Women
- Kansas Society of Professional Engineers
- Urban Core Group
| Advanced Degrees and Certifications | |
| Kansas State University |
Architectural Engineering
Architecture Chemical Engineering (MS, Distance Learning) Civil Engineering (MS, Distance Learning) Engineering Engineering Management (Distance Learning) Electrical and Computer Engineering Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Interior Architecture and Product Design Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering |
| University of Kansas |
Architecture (MA, M.Arch., PhD)
Urban Planning (MUP) Aerospace Engineering (ME, MS, PhD, DE) Architectural Engineering (MS.) Bioengineering (MS, PhD) Chemical Engineering (MS) Chemical and Petroleum Engineering (PhD) Civil Engineering (MS, PhD, DE, MCE) Construction Management (MCM) Electrical Engineering (MS, PhD, DE) Engineering Management (MS) Environmental Engineering (MS, PhD) Environmental Science (MS, PhD) Mechanical Engineering (MS, PhD, DE) Petroleum Engineering (MS) Water Resources Science (MS) |
| University of Kansas- Edwards Campus |
Architecture Management (MA)
|
| University of Missouri- Columbia |
Architectural Studies (MA, MS,PhD)
Chemical Engineering (MS, PhD) Electrical Engineering (MS, PhD) Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering (MS, PhD) Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MS, PhD) Nuclear Engineering (MS,PhD) |
| University of Missouri- Kansas City |
Computer and Electrical Engineering (PhD)
Engineering (PhD) Civil Engineering (MS) Electrical Engineering (MS) Mechanical Engineering (MS) |
MBA programs are offered at most colleges in the KC area. Visit Higher Education for a list of schools.
| Select Architecture and Engineering Employers | ||
|
Firm Name
|
Office Type
|
Contact
|
| 360 Architecture Inc. |
Corporate Headquarters
|
|
| Al J. Mueller Construction Co. |
Main Office
|
NA
|
| Black & Veatch |
World Headquarters
|
|
| BNIM Architects |
National Headquarters
|
|
| Burns & McDonnell |
World Headquarters
|
|
| CRB Consulting Engineers |
National Headquarters
|
|
| Davidson-Brown |
Headquarters
|
NA
|
| DLR Group |
Regional Branch
|
|
| Ellerbe Becket |
Regional Branch
|
|
| George Butler Associates Inc. |
National Headquarters
|
|
| Gould Evans |
Regional Affiliate
|
|
| HarenLaughlin Construction Co. |
Headquarters
|
|
| Helix Architecture + Design, Inc. |
National Headquarters
|
HR Contact |
| HNTB Companies |
World Headquarters
|
|
| Hoefer Wysocki Architects | Headquarters | HR Contact |
| JE Dunn Construction Company |
National Headquarters
|
|
| Kiewit Power Engineers |
Division Headquarters
|
|
| Mark One Electric Company Inc. |
Headquarters
|
|
| McAninch Corporation |
Regional Branch
|
|
| McCownGordon Construction |
Headquarters
|
|
| Meyer Companies Inc. |
National Headquarters
|
|
| Miller-Stauch Construction Co. Inc. |
Headquarters
|
|
| Olsson Associates |
Regional Kansas City Branches
|
|
| P1 Group |
Corporate Headquarters
|
|
| Peckham Guyton Albers & Viets Inc. (PGAV Architects) |
Kansas City Office
|
|
| Populous |
Headquarters
|
HR Contact |
| R.F. Fisher Electric Company LLC |
Headquarters
|
1-800-385-3880
|
| Rosemann & Associates |
Corporate Headquarters
& Design Studio |
|
| R/S Electric Corporation |
Headquarters
|
1-800-540-1938
|
| Shafer, Kline & Warren Inc. |
Corporate Offices
|
|
| Terracon Consultants Inc. |
Corporate Office
|
|
| Tevis Architectural Group |
Main Office
|
NA
|
| TranSystems Corporation |
Headquarters
|
|
| Turner Construction Company |
Company Office
& Special Projects/ Interiors Division |
|
| U.S. Engineering |
Corporate Headquarters
|
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History
Kansas City’s architecture and engineering industry is responsible for the foundation of the city’s infrastructure. As early as the 1900s, Kansas City engineering firms began to notice problems with Kansas City’s infrastructure including its water system and electric lights.
In 1898, Clinton Burns and Robert McDonnell joined to form Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, and tackled the sewer sanitation system in Kansas City and surrounding towns. After several projects in its first year, the new company made a profit of only 13 cents. Burns & McDonnell designed Kansas City’s first water treatment plant, which it updated again in 1945 to carry a capacity of 150 million gallons of water per day.
In 1915, Ernst Bateman Black and Nathan Thomas Veatch, began a partnership that would become an engineering legacy in Kansas City. Black & Veatch began building roadways and streets in Kansas City in 1925. By 1928, 250 miles of modern roadway were in place in and around Kansas City.
Many civic projects in Kansas City were constructed in the 1960s and 70s including the Truman Sports Complex, KCI Airport, Kemper Arena and the Truman Medical Center.
HOK Group also succeeded in the sports, venue and event industry. In 1983, HOK Sport Venue Event division was formed and employed eight architects and engineers. HOK’s diverse clients include 24 Major League Baseball franchises, 30 National Football League franchises and more than 120 colleges and universities. Since the division was formed, HOK Sport Venue Event has grown to the largest sports venue architecture and engineering firm internationally. HOK’s latest sports venture includes master planning for the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London.
The concentration of successful architecture and engineering companies has made Kansas City a leader in the industry.
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