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An Architectural Response to Demolition of West Edge

The unfinished West Edge project.
courtesy of Safdie Architects
The unfinished West Edge project.

There are two Moshe Safdie-designed projects in Kansas City: the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, slated to open September 16th; and West Edge, an office and hotel complex near the Country Club Plaza that's been plagued with problems. A construction dispute, bankruptcy, and changes in ownership stalled the project for nearly three years.

By Laura Spencer

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-984600.mp3

Kansas City, Mo. – This week, law firm Polsinelli Shughart announced it would build its headquarters on the site. Most of the unfinished project - it's about 70 percent completed - will be torn down.

To find out what role - if any - an architect now has in the process, KCUR's Laura Spencer checked in with Jay Stephens, vice president and general counsel of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Read more about what architect Moshe Safdie had to say about West Edge in a May 2011 interview here.

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Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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