Thompson “Tom” Charlton Nelson, FAIA
Thompson "Tom" Charlton Nelson, 90, of Kansas City, Missouri, and founding principal of BNIM, died surrounded by the love of family and friends on June 30, 2026. He was preceded in death by his sister Nanette Chesky and is survived by wife Lorraine Gordon and children Ashley Clayton, Lisa Pearson, Rachel Sheehan, and David Sheehan; son-in-law Christian Pearson, daughter-in-law Amy Gao; grandchildren Milo Clayton, Rose Clayton, Max Pearson, Declan Sheehan, and Gordon Sheehan; brother William Richard "Dick" Nelson; nephews Nelson "Ted" Chesky and William "Bill" Chesky, and nieces Ann "Kit" (Tom) White, Elizabeth Chesky, and Janet (Jim) Chesky.
Tom was born in St. Joseph, Missouri to Gertrude Arnhold Nelson and William Richard Nelson. After graduating Central High School in St. Joseph, he attended the University of Kansas where he studied architecture and met lifelong friends Bob Peters, Bob Berkebile, and John Downing. Tom's love of travel and interest in transportation systems showed up early when he took summer jobs surveying highways in California and Alaska. After receiving his degree he began a five year odyssey working for well regarded architects in Houston, Boston and London, where he met his first wife, Gillian Collins. Upon returning to Kansas City Tom had the good fortune to be invited to join Kivett and Myers, the "graduate school" for Kansas City architects, where he met more lifelong friends: Tom Devine and Kite Singleton. He was made an Associate at Kivett and Myers and later became Chief of Design.
In 1970 Tom and three other K&M veterans, including Bob Berkebile, left, with what he later described as a somewhat innocent optimism, to form PBNL, which eventually became BNIM. BNIM evolved to become one of Kansas City's most prominent and distinguished architectural firms. Tom was particularly proud of the younger architects who rose to lead BNIM or lead their own firms, and of any role he might have played in their success.
BNIM won numerous design awards and received AIA's highest honor, the National Firm Award, in 2011. Tom was convinced that a huge part of the firm's success was due to the passion he and his partners had for Kansas City and for their constant involvement in civic affairs. Tom served as a member of the City Plan Commission starting in 1978 and was the Chairman from 1985-1988. 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. He promoted any number of civic ideas. Many, like the Lewis and Clark Parkway, had about zero chance of realization, but some, including the "Freeway Forest", sensible billboard legislation, and Crossroads Boulevard, actually got done, enhancing Kansas City's environs. In retirement he enjoyed being the site coordinator for Symphony in the Flint Hills and pro bono work for YMCA's Camp Wood in Elmdale, Kansas.
While at BNIM, Tom focused on development plans and urban projects. He was Design Principal for the Truman State Office Building, the Deramus Pavilion at the Kansas City Zoo, Earthworks, the University of Missouri Reynolds Alumni Center, and the Bartle Conference Center. He was Design and Project Principal on almost all of BNIM's downtown office buildings including 1220 Washington, One Kansas City Place, DST's downtown campus, State Street Bank, Broadway Square, 333 West Eleventh, and Kansas City Southern. In addition to working with the Bloch Addition team at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, he led the effort for the Ford Learning Center and the Ward Sculpture/Connecting Gallery. 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, even after his death.
But Tom didn't work all the time. He loved the outdoors and was an avid camper, hiker, backpacker, fly fisherman, and canoeist. He instilled that love in his children. Memorable trips include camping throughout the Midwest and West, canoeing on the Niangua, backpacking across the Continental Divide in the San Juan Wilderness Area in Colorado, and traversing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Favorite trips with friends included bird-watching roadtrips, flyfishing, hiking in the Grand Canyon and floating on both the Colorado and Rio Grande. As his dear friend Bob Peters said, the rivers will miss them.
Tom would say his smartest decision was marrying Lorraine Gordon, a well-regarded teacher and college counselor at Pembroke Hill. Lorraine enriched his life immeasurably, and together with their kids they formed a family that bonded and grew together. Tom and Lorraine both loved to travel, particularly to France, where they made many joyful memories with friends exploring cities, towns, and villages. They also spent half a lifetime together restoring their 100-year old house on Morningside Drive, providing a happy home to a series of blonde, brown, and black labs.
Tom's family remembers his dry humor, avid curiosity, and commitment to making the world a better and more aesthetically pleasing place. They commit to continuing family meals and celebrations, especially his favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, and they fondly recall the trips, the preparation for the trips, the precise packing of the car, and are all better list makers because of his training. Anyone who knew Tom well would eventually talk about trains, and, if lucky enough, would be shown his HO-gauge train cars or be taken to Kansas City's Santa Fe junction, one of the busiest freight train junctions in the US. He was a voracious reader of historical nonfiction and poured over cookbooks containing regional and world recipes he would often adapt and prepare. His own worst critic in the kitchen, no one who actually ate his cuisine ever complained. Tom often relaxed by playing the piano, where he might inspire sing-alongs of favorites like "Danny Boy" or "Shine On, Harvest Moon". His rich, deep voice could also be enjoyed on long car rides, or when gathered around a campfire.
In the end, Tom expressed deeply felt gratitude for a life full of loving family, great friends, immensely rewarding work, and plenty of adventure. His skill in mentorship is remembered by those who benefitted from his advice and council. His vision and creativity left a profound mark on the city he loved. If you feel inclined to honor Tom, please consider a donation to either the Tom Nelson/BNIM Fund in Architecture, Urban Planning + Design at UMKC or The Parkinson's Foundation Heartland Chapter.