Kansas City and the World Cup
It has been an truly memorable summer in Kansas City as we’ve welcomed the world to our hometown. The World Cup may be coming to a close, but the connections and celebrations shared with our global community will continue have a lasting impact. To commemorate Kansas City’s time being at the heart of the World Cup’s host cities, BNIM is sharing a series of architecturally-inspired soccer scarves featuring some of Kansas City’s most beloved spaces that we have had the honor of helping shape over the past several decades.
Designed by BNIM Graphic Designer Olivia Krueger, the collection features scarves inspired by six Kansas City destinations: the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Union Station, One Kansas City Place, the Power & Light Building, the KC Streetcar, and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Olivia shared her inspiration for the collection, “Inspired by the visual language of traditional soccer scarves, this collection celebrates the energy, pride, and excitement that has surrounded the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City. The color palette reflects the city’s diverse character and range of experiences, while recognizable landmarks are distilled into bold geometric forms that preserve their defining architectural features, celebrating their place within Kansas City’s cultural landscape.
Each scarf features a project designed by BNIM, representing destinations that contribute to the city’s cultural, civic, and public identity. Created to commemorate Kansas City’s role as a 2026 World Cup host city, the collection highlights how these projects have shaped the city’s experience for residents and visitors alike.”
As part of Kansas City’s vibrant arts community, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is a free cultural institution that welcomes visitors from across the region and beyond to visit, learn, and explore its renowned collection of more than 33,500 works of art. BNIM has been a design partner to the museum through its campus transformation over the past two decades, expanding gallery space and arts programming to engage visitors and celebrate art, culture, and community.
Located in the heart of Kansas City, Union Station, originally designed in 1906, served the city as the train depot throughout most of the 20th century. In 1996, BNIM was selected on a team of local architects to carry out a renovation of Union Station, including the station’s Science City museum, which features permanent and traveling exhibits, a theater for experiential movies, a planetarium, and much more. BNIM later led the design of the Bloch Fountain on Union Station’s front entry plaza, contributing to Kansas City’s reputation as “The City of Fountains.”
One Kansas City Place and the Power and Light Building are two significant structures that help comprise Kansas City’s skyline. Standing at 623 feet tall with 42 stories, One Kansas City Place has held the title of Missouri’s tallest building since its completion in 1988. BNIM’s design for the building creates a striking yet respectful presence in the architectural landscape of the city.
The Power and Light Building, built in 1931, was designed by Hoit, Price & Barnes, is one of the most prestigious Art Deco buildings in the nation and one of Kansas City’s historical treasures of 20th century American architecture. BNIM’s restoration of the existing lobby and 2nd floor mezzanine returned the building to its original splendor, while creating a modern workspace to serve as BNIM’s former office. The historic renovation helped return a piece of history to the collective memory of the city and spurred renewal efforts in the area.
After the original streetcar network was dismantled in Kansas City in 1957, the KC Streetcar made its return to the community in 2016. The City of Kansas City, Missouri and its project team, led by BNIM, developed a plan and hosted community workshops, meetings, and public forums for the expansion of the Downtown Streetcar starter line. Today, the KC Streetcar’s line transports riders from UMKC’s campus to the River Market. The Streetcar transported over 700,000 passengers, according to the the KC Streetcar Authority, as Kansas City welcomed the World Cup.
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is counted among the finest performing arts venues in the Midwest and the world, producing near perfect acoustics and featuring complex geometry and momentous spaces of exquisite design, detailing, and construction. The Kauffman Center, designed by Moshe Safdie Architects, in collaboration with renowned acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota and BNIM as joint architect of record, creates an exceptional experience for performers and audiences alike and is home resident arts organizations of the Kansas City Ballet, the Lyric Opera and the Kansas City Symphony.