Clarence Kivett , the father of modern design in Kansas City, died Tuesday at the age of 91.
For a half-century Kivett designed some of the city's best-known structures, including Kansas City International Airport and the Alameda Plaza Hotel (now the Ritz-Carlton, Kansas City).
His firm, Kivett & Myers, also designed Arrowhead and Royals (now Kauffman) stadiums, Macy's Downtown Store, the Missouri State Office Building and Temple B'nai Jehudah, among dozens of others.
But, say those who knew him, Kivett's legacy centers on the roster of leading architects that emerged from Kivett & Myers. In the 1980s, former Kivett & Myers architects got together to throw him a party. An elaborate diagram showed that the company had spawned more than 50 firms.
``He left Kansas City with more than it knows,'' said Ted Seligson, a principal of Foss Seligson & Lafferty. ``A lot of good things that have happened here come from a lot of his influence. '' Among the dozens of architects who worked for Kivett & Myers, a sampling of names includes Tom Nelson and Bob Berkebile of BNIM Architects; Bruce Patty of Burns & McDonnell; Kite Singleton of HNTB Corp.; and Cary Goodman of Gould Evans Goodman Associates.
``He gave you confidence, pumped you up and then defended you in front of clients,'' said HNTB's Richard Farnan, who began his career working for Kivett. ``He was an incredible inspiration. '' That insipiration led to a firm that encouraged young architects to test their limits.
``We started a whole new regime,'' said Ralph Myers, Kivett's partner for about 30 years. ``We always said we wanted the ones who were going to be our competitors someday. '' Said Singleton: ``That's why you find that so many people love him - it's because he loved them. He got excited about what you were doing and would go to clients with you and say, 'Boy, wait until you see this! ' '' Clarence Kivett, known as Clarence Kivovitch until he changed his name shortly after graduating from KU, worked for Madorie & Bihr right out of school. He soon went to Hoit Price & Barnes, where he worked as a junior architect on the Kansas City Power & Light Building, the firm's major project at the time.
But the Depression forced Hoit Price to fire him. Despite the dire economy, the words `` Clarence Kivett , Architect'' went into the Victor building's directory downtown in 1931.
``These were tough times,'' Kivett told The Kansas City Star in 1982. ``The architects were closing their offices, only I didn't know it. I didn't know from nothing. '' His first jobs involved remodeling buildings, including a sundries shop that had a gaming and horse betting parlor in the back room. He then received his first big commission - to help Frohwerk & Bloomgarten design a Katz Drug Store (now an Osco) at 40th and Main streets.
Ralph Myers joined Kivett in 1940. But the beginning of World War II sent the men to different assignments - Myers to a bomber plant and Kivett to Knob Noster, Mo., to supervise construction for the U.S. Army Air Forces.
The men got back together in 1945. Two years later, the government lifted restrictions on construction materials, and pent-up demand for new buildings found its way to their door.
For the nearly 30 years that followed, Kivett & Myers oversaw dozens of projects varying in size, stature and mission, among them Arrowhead and Royals (now Kauffman) stadiums, Macy's Downtown store, Mission Hills Country Club, St. Ann's Catholic Church, Indian Hills Junior High School, the Missouri State Office Building, Temple B'Nai Jehudah, Antioch Shopping Center, the University of Kansas' Nunemaker Hall and the Missouri Public Service Co. Building.
The firm also worked on international projects, such as airports in Munich, Germany, and Lisbon, Portugal.
But Kivett's work didn't stop at the drafting table. From early in his career, he served his community through civic endeavors and his industry through professional organizations.
Kivett served as a member of the Kansas City Plan Commission, the Municipal Art Commission, the Kansas City Art Institute's board of directors, Westport Tomorrow and the Clean City Commission. He also served as an adviser to the Nelson Gallery.Fellow of the organization in the early 1960s.
Kivett & Myers also received awards - more than 200 for designs the firm put together after 1947 until merging with HNTB Corp. in 1975. Kivett & Myers won 30 of the 73 awards given by the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects in that period, according to a history of the company by David Sachs of Kansas State University's architecture department.
But more important, say those who knew Kivett, the firm produced quality buildings and quality architects. Of the 46 honor awards given by the local AIA chapter over 25 years leading up to the early 1990s, 40 went to alumni of the firm, according to the Sachs history.
``The upshot of it is that, after the war, Clarence Kivett and Ralph Myers created a firm committed to modern architecture,'' said George Ehrlich, an architectural historian. ``They hired young people and encouraged them to produce major designs. They weren't hired for scut work. '' Hannan Kivett, Clarence Kivett 's nephew who was an architect on the Munich Airport project, said he felt his uncle's influence early.
``Clarence was certainly my inspiration,'' said Hannan Kivett, who lives in San Francisco. ``He inspired me from my earliest beginnings and was my mentor and teacher. ''
Published in the December 5, 1996 edition of the Kansas City STAR
contributor Tom Nelson
For a half-century Kivett designed some of the city's best-known structures, including Kansas City International Airport and the Alameda Plaza Hotel (now the Ritz-Carlton, Kansas City).
His firm, Kivett & Myers, also designed Arrowhead and Royals (now Kauffman) stadiums, Macy's Downtown Store, the Missouri State Office Building and Temple B'nai Jehudah, among dozens of others.
But, say those who knew him, Kivett's legacy centers on the roster of leading architects that emerged from Kivett & Myers. In the 1980s, former Kivett & Myers architects got together to throw him a party. An elaborate diagram showed that the company had spawned more than 50 firms.
``He left Kansas City with more than it knows,'' said Ted Seligson, a principal of Foss Seligson & Lafferty. ``A lot of good things that have happened here come from a lot of his influence. '' Among the dozens of architects who worked for Kivett & Myers, a sampling of names includes Tom Nelson and Bob Berkebile of BNIM Architects; Bruce Patty of Burns & McDonnell; Kite Singleton of HNTB Corp.; and Cary Goodman of Gould Evans Goodman Associates.
``He gave you confidence, pumped you up and then defended you in front of clients,'' said HNTB's Richard Farnan, who began his career working for Kivett. ``He was an incredible inspiration. '' That insipiration led to a firm that encouraged young architects to test their limits.
``We started a whole new regime,'' said Ralph Myers, Kivett's partner for about 30 years. ``We always said we wanted the ones who were going to be our competitors someday. '' Said Singleton: ``That's why you find that so many people love him - it's because he loved them. He got excited about what you were doing and would go to clients with you and say, 'Boy, wait until you see this! ' '' Clarence Kivett, known as Clarence Kivovitch until he changed his name shortly after graduating from KU, worked for Madorie & Bihr right out of school. He soon went to Hoit Price & Barnes, where he worked as a junior architect on the Kansas City Power & Light Building, the firm's major project at the time.
But the Depression forced Hoit Price to fire him. Despite the dire economy, the words `` Clarence Kivett , Architect'' went into the Victor building's directory downtown in 1931.
``These were tough times,'' Kivett told The Kansas City Star in 1982. ``The architects were closing their offices, only I didn't know it. I didn't know from nothing. '' His first jobs involved remodeling buildings, including a sundries shop that had a gaming and horse betting parlor in the back room. He then received his first big commission - to help Frohwerk & Bloomgarten design a Katz Drug Store (now an Osco) at 40th and Main streets.
Ralph Myers joined Kivett in 1940. But the beginning of World War II sent the men to different assignments - Myers to a bomber plant and Kivett to Knob Noster, Mo., to supervise construction for the U.S. Army Air Forces.
The men got back together in 1945. Two years later, the government lifted restrictions on construction materials, and pent-up demand for new buildings found its way to their door.
For the nearly 30 years that followed, Kivett & Myers oversaw dozens of projects varying in size, stature and mission, among them Arrowhead and Royals (now Kauffman) stadiums, Macy's Downtown store, Mission Hills Country Club, St. Ann's Catholic Church, Indian Hills Junior High School, the Missouri State Office Building, Temple B'Nai Jehudah, Antioch Shopping Center, the University of Kansas' Nunemaker Hall and the Missouri Public Service Co. Building.
The firm also worked on international projects, such as airports in Munich, Germany, and Lisbon, Portugal.
But Kivett's work didn't stop at the drafting table. From early in his career, he served his community through civic endeavors and his industry through professional organizations.
Kivett served as a member of the Kansas City Plan Commission, the Municipal Art Commission, the Kansas City Art Institute's board of directors, Westport Tomorrow and the Clean City Commission. He also served as an adviser to the Nelson Gallery.Fellow of the organization in the early 1960s.
Kivett & Myers also received awards - more than 200 for designs the firm put together after 1947 until merging with HNTB Corp. in 1975. Kivett & Myers won 30 of the 73 awards given by the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects in that period, according to a history of the company by David Sachs of Kansas State University's architecture department.
But more important, say those who knew Kivett, the firm produced quality buildings and quality architects. Of the 46 honor awards given by the local AIA chapter over 25 years leading up to the early 1990s, 40 went to alumni of the firm, according to the Sachs history.
``The upshot of it is that, after the war, Clarence Kivett and Ralph Myers created a firm committed to modern architecture,'' said George Ehrlich, an architectural historian. ``They hired young people and encouraged them to produce major designs. They weren't hired for scut work. '' Hannan Kivett, Clarence Kivett 's nephew who was an architect on the Munich Airport project, said he felt his uncle's influence early.
``Clarence was certainly my inspiration,'' said Hannan Kivett, who lives in San Francisco. ``He inspired me from my earliest beginnings and was my mentor and teacher. ''
Published in the December 5, 1996 edition of the Kansas City STAR
contributor Tom Nelson
Clarence Kivett , the father of modern design in Kansas City, died Tuesday at the age of 91.
For a half-century Kivett designed some of the city's best-known structures, including Kansas City International Airport and the Alameda Plaza Hotel (now the Ritz-Carlton, Kansas City).
His firm, Kivett & Myers, also designed Arrowhead and Royals (now Kauffman) stadiums, Macy's Downtown Store, the Missouri State Office Building and Temple B'nai Jehudah, among dozens of others.
But, say those who knew him, Kivett's legacy centers on the roster of leading architects that emerged from Kivett & Myers. In the 1980s, former Kivett & Myers architects got together to throw him a party. An elaborate diagram showed that the company had spawned more than 50 firms.
``He left Kansas City with more than it knows,'' said Ted Seligson, a principal of Foss Seligson & Lafferty. ``A lot of good things that have happened here come from a lot of his influence. '' Among the dozens of architects who worked for Kivett & Myers, a sampling of names includes Tom Nelson and Bob Berkebile of BNIM Architects; Bruce Patty of Burns & McDonnell; Kite Singleton of HNTB Corp.; and Cary Goodman of Gould Evans Goodman Associates.
``He gave you confidence, pumped you up and then defended you in front of clients,'' said HNTB's Richard Farnan, who began his career working for Kivett. ``He was an incredible inspiration. '' That insipiration led to a firm that encouraged young architects to test their limits.
``We started a whole new regime,'' said Ralph Myers, Kivett's partner for about 30 years. ``We always said we wanted the ones who were going to be our competitors someday. '' Said Singleton: ``That's why you find that so many people love him - it's because he loved them. He got excited about what you were doing and would go to clients with you and say, 'Boy, wait until you see this! ' '' Clarence Kivett, known as Clarence Kivovitch until he changed his name shortly after graduating from KU, worked for Madorie & Bihr right out of school. He soon went to Hoit Price & Barnes, where he worked as a junior architect on the Kansas City Power & Light Building, the firm's major project at the time.
But the Depression forced Hoit Price to fire him. Despite the dire economy, the words `` Clarence Kivett , Architect'' went into the Victor building's directory downtown in 1931.
``These were tough times,'' Kivett told The Kansas City Star in 1982. ``The architects were closing their offices, only I didn't know it. I didn't know from nothing. '' His first jobs involved remodeling buildings, including a sundries shop that had a gaming and horse betting parlor in the back room. He then received his first big commission - to help Frohwerk & Bloomgarten design a Katz Drug Store (now an Osco) at 40th and Main streets.
Ralph Myers joined Kivett in 1940. But the beginning of World War II sent the men to different assignments - Myers to a bomber plant and Kivett to Knob Noster, Mo., to supervise construction for the U.S. Army Air Forces.
The men got back together in 1945. Two years later, the government lifted restrictions on construction materials, and pent-up demand for new buildings found its way to their door.
For the nearly 30 years that followed, Kivett & Myers oversaw dozens of projects varying in size, stature and mission, among them Arrowhead and Royals (now Kauffman) stadiums, Macy's Downtown store, Mission Hills Country Club, St. Ann's Catholic Church, Indian Hills Junior High School, the Missouri State Office Building, Temple B'Nai Jehudah, Antioch Shopping Center, the University of Kansas' Nunemaker Hall and the Missouri Public Service Co. Building.
The firm also worked on international projects, such as airports in Munich, Germany, and Lisbon, Portugal.
But Kivett's work didn't stop at the drafting table. From early in his career, he served his community through civic endeavors and his industry through professional organizations.
Kivett served as a member of the Kansas City Plan Commission, the Municipal Art Commission, the Kansas City Art Institute's board of directors, Westport Tomorrow and the Clean City Commission. He also served as an adviser to the Nelson Gallery.Fellow of the organization in the early 1960s.
Kivett & Myers also received awards - more than 200 for designs the firm put together after 1947 until merging with HNTB Corp. in 1975. Kivett & Myers won 30 of the 73 awards given by the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects in that period, according to a history of the company by David Sachs of Kansas State University's architecture department.
But more important, say those who knew Kivett, the firm produced quality buildings and quality architects. Of the 46 honor awards given by the local AIA chapter over 25 years leading up to the early 1990s, 40 went to alumni of the firm, according to the Sachs history.
``The upshot of it is that, after the war, Clarence Kivett and Ralph Myers created a firm committed to modern architecture,'' said George Ehrlich, an architectural historian. ``They hired young people and encouraged them to produce major designs. They weren't hired for scut work. '' Hannan Kivett, Clarence Kivett 's nephew who was an architect on the Munich Airport project, said he felt his uncle's influence early.
``Clarence was certainly my inspiration,'' said Hannan Kivett, who lives in San Francisco. ``He inspired me from my earliest beginnings and was my mentor and teacher. ''
Published in the December 5, 1996 edition of the Kansas City STAR
contributor Tom Nelson
For a half-century Kivett designed some of the city's best-known structures, including Kansas City International Airport and the Alameda Plaza Hotel (now the Ritz-Carlton, Kansas City).
His firm, Kivett & Myers, also designed Arrowhead and Royals (now Kauffman) stadiums, Macy's Downtown Store, the Missouri State Office Building and Temple B'nai Jehudah, among dozens of others.
But, say those who knew him, Kivett's legacy centers on the roster of leading architects that emerged from Kivett & Myers. In the 1980s, former Kivett & Myers architects got together to throw him a party. An elaborate diagram showed that the company had spawned more than 50 firms.
``He left Kansas City with more than it knows,'' said Ted Seligson, a principal of Foss Seligson & Lafferty. ``A lot of good things that have happened here come from a lot of his influence. '' Among the dozens of architects who worked for Kivett & Myers, a sampling of names includes Tom Nelson and Bob Berkebile of BNIM Architects; Bruce Patty of Burns & McDonnell; Kite Singleton of HNTB Corp.; and Cary Goodman of Gould Evans Goodman Associates.
``He gave you confidence, pumped you up and then defended you in front of clients,'' said HNTB's Richard Farnan, who began his career working for Kivett. ``He was an incredible inspiration. '' That insipiration led to a firm that encouraged young architects to test their limits.
``We started a whole new regime,'' said Ralph Myers, Kivett's partner for about 30 years. ``We always said we wanted the ones who were going to be our competitors someday. '' Said Singleton: ``That's why you find that so many people love him - it's because he loved them. He got excited about what you were doing and would go to clients with you and say, 'Boy, wait until you see this! ' '' Clarence Kivett, known as Clarence Kivovitch until he changed his name shortly after graduating from KU, worked for Madorie & Bihr right out of school. He soon went to Hoit Price & Barnes, where he worked as a junior architect on the Kansas City Power & Light Building, the firm's major project at the time.
But the Depression forced Hoit Price to fire him. Despite the dire economy, the words `` Clarence Kivett , Architect'' went into the Victor building's directory downtown in 1931.
``These were tough times,'' Kivett told The Kansas City Star in 1982. ``The architects were closing their offices, only I didn't know it. I didn't know from nothing. '' His first jobs involved remodeling buildings, including a sundries shop that had a gaming and horse betting parlor in the back room. He then received his first big commission - to help Frohwerk & Bloomgarten design a Katz Drug Store (now an Osco) at 40th and Main streets.
Ralph Myers joined Kivett in 1940. But the beginning of World War II sent the men to different assignments - Myers to a bomber plant and Kivett to Knob Noster, Mo., to supervise construction for the U.S. Army Air Forces.
The men got back together in 1945. Two years later, the government lifted restrictions on construction materials, and pent-up demand for new buildings found its way to their door.
For the nearly 30 years that followed, Kivett & Myers oversaw dozens of projects varying in size, stature and mission, among them Arrowhead and Royals (now Kauffman) stadiums, Macy's Downtown store, Mission Hills Country Club, St. Ann's Catholic Church, Indian Hills Junior High School, the Missouri State Office Building, Temple B'Nai Jehudah, Antioch Shopping Center, the University of Kansas' Nunemaker Hall and the Missouri Public Service Co. Building.
The firm also worked on international projects, such as airports in Munich, Germany, and Lisbon, Portugal.
But Kivett's work didn't stop at the drafting table. From early in his career, he served his community through civic endeavors and his industry through professional organizations.
Kivett served as a member of the Kansas City Plan Commission, the Municipal Art Commission, the Kansas City Art Institute's board of directors, Westport Tomorrow and the Clean City Commission. He also served as an adviser to the Nelson Gallery.Fellow of the organization in the early 1960s.
Kivett & Myers also received awards - more than 200 for designs the firm put together after 1947 until merging with HNTB Corp. in 1975. Kivett & Myers won 30 of the 73 awards given by the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects in that period, according to a history of the company by David Sachs of Kansas State University's architecture department.
But more important, say those who knew Kivett, the firm produced quality buildings and quality architects. Of the 46 honor awards given by the local AIA chapter over 25 years leading up to the early 1990s, 40 went to alumni of the firm, according to the Sachs history.
``The upshot of it is that, after the war, Clarence Kivett and Ralph Myers created a firm committed to modern architecture,'' said George Ehrlich, an architectural historian. ``They hired young people and encouraged them to produce major designs. They weren't hired for scut work. '' Hannan Kivett, Clarence Kivett 's nephew who was an architect on the Munich Airport project, said he felt his uncle's influence early.
``Clarence was certainly my inspiration,'' said Hannan Kivett, who lives in San Francisco. ``He inspired me from my earliest beginnings and was my mentor and teacher. ''
Published in the December 5, 1996 edition of the Kansas City STAR
contributor Tom Nelson
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