Remembering a Visionary and Giant, Tom Nelson, FAIA
KANSAS CITY, Mo (July 9, 2026) — The family of Tom Nelson and BNIM are saddened to share that Tom left the physical world that he so dearly loved and committed his life to making a better place on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
First and foremost, Tom was deeply committed to his family and friends. His family expressed Tom’s profound gratitude for a life full of loving family, great friends, immensely rewarding work, and plenty of adventure. Tom was a founder and leader of Berkebile Nelson Immenschuh McDowell (BNIM), where he enjoyed extraordinary success as a designer and planner of important buildings and the foundational work that led to the renaissance of Kansas City that is seen today.
“For his own family and the BNIM family, two words to describe Tom stand out as very meaningful and true — visionary and giant. Tom didn’t just create important visions that he worked tirelessly to bring to life. He was not only a giant in the profession; Tom was also an extraordinary human being who understood that his decisions and actions, as a person and as an architect, mattered and would have an impact far beyond his lifetime,” Steve McDowell, principal at BNIM, shares.
At the beginning of his architectural career, after receiving his degree at The University of Kansas, Tom began a five-year odyssey working for well-regarded architects in Houston, Boston, and London. Upon returning to Kansas City, Tom was invited to join Kivett and Myers, where he was made an Associate and would later become Chief of Design.
In 1970, Tom and three of his fellow colleagues of Kivett and Myers, including his friend and former University of Kansas classmate, Bob Berkebile, formed a new practice, PBNL — the firm known today as BNIM. The practice has evolved to become one of Kansas City’s most prominent and distinguished architectural firms, which received the American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) highest honor, the AIA National Firm Award, in 2011. Tom was deeply proud of this honor; its recognition of what BNIM stood for and delivered really mattered to him.
Tom changed the form and operations of Kansas City and its skyline. His remarkable work included the design of One Kansas City Place, the Deramus Entry Pavilion at the Kansas City Zoo, the Bartle Conference Center, the Kay Barnes Ballroom in collaboration with the late Todd Achelpohl of HNTB, and the redevelopment of the west side of Downtown for DST and the Merriman families. He was also a key collaborator with Steven Holl Architects on the Bloch Building at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, including leading the design of Adelaide Cobb Ward Sculpture Hall and the Ford Learning Center.
In 1975, Tom and the firm were asked to design the new Harry S Truman State Office Building in Jefferson City, MO, as what would have been the tallest high-rise in the state. Being immediately adjacent to the Missouri Capitol Building, Tom advised the client that a lower, larger footprint building would serve the State better and maintain the prominence of the most important building in Missouri. Putting ego aside and looking out for the best interests of the State, Tom’s brilliance continues to serve the people and employees of the State after 50 years.
Equally important as these significant projects was Tom’s vision for making Kansas City the place it wants to be. He led and collaborated with others on numerous planning efforts including FOCUS, Berkley Riverfront, Heritage Trail, the Light Rail Plan, Planning the Crossroads, “Make Grand Grand” Boulevard Streetscape Plan, and many other initiatives that are now being realized within Kansas City’s revitalized community. One of those ideas being implemented today is Roy Blunt Luminary Park, a vision generated to reconnect the city where the interstate system disrupted community, fabric, and economy.
“Tom built Kansas City,” Matt Kleinmann, director of community development at Vibrant Health, reflects.
Tom’s interest in the urban core of Kansas City and his work to vitalize, modernize, and preserve the essence of the city lives on through the neighborhoods, public spaces, and civic investments he helped inspire.
His passion for the city and commitment to civic leadership became a core pillar of BNIM’s culture and continues to shape the firm’s future work and impact. As founder and key leader of BNIM, Tom created the foundation for what is today a 100% employee-owned design company working across the United States and internationally. Under his leadership, BNIM took bold and strategic steps to move the practice forward, to change the industry to become more responsible and sustainable, and to invest capital and resources in ideas that would help Kansas City be more successful.
“But for Tom, Kansas City’s skyline, urbanity, accessibility, and quality of life would be diminished. But for Tom as a mentor, I would not be who I am. Nor would BNIM have received AIA’s National Firm Award. And perhaps most importantly, this community and region would have fewer inspiring buildings, public places, and capable architects,” says Bob Berkebile, principal emeritus and co-founder of BNIM.
Tom was instrumental in the formation of the Downtown Council and a constant advocate for the public realm of the city he loved. An active member of the American Institute of Architects, he served as President of AIA Kansas City and for three years on the national board. As a civic leader, Tom was sought out to champion important planning, design and policy issues and became a member of the City Plan Commission starting in 1978, serving as Chair for two Kansas City Mayors, including Richard “Dick” Berkley and Emanuel Cleaver, II.
Congressman Cleaver succinctly expressed the significance of Tom’s impact, “I am very sorry to hear about the departure of one of Kansas City’s most gifted visionaries, yes, even a giant.”
Tom was a mentor and teacher for countless architects, both within BNIM and beyond, including Kirk Gastinger, Steve McDowell, Steve Rees, Casey Cassias, Doug Stevens, Craig Scranton, Jay Tomlinson, Kathy Achelpohl, Bob Simmons, the late Randy Endecott, Dan Maginn, and Murali Ramaswami. Tom measured success less by personal recognition than by the lasting impact of doing what was right for the community, the profession, and the people around him. His legacy lives not only in the buildings he designed, but in the architects he influenced and inspired and the work they continue to create.
“We will all miss Tom’s wisdom, talent, humor, and humanity, but take heart in knowing he is all around us every day,” says Laura Lesniewski, principal at BNIM.
Tom’s family is planning services for September, and more information will be made available soon. For additional information, please contact Beena Ramaswami at bramaswami@bnim.com.