Category: What’s New Today

For Immediate Release – Pendulum’s Montreal Excitation Concept Wins RTF 2020 International Design Award

November 4, 2020

https://awards.re-thinkingthefuture.com/acda2020-winners/montreal-excitation-expo-67-island-by-pendulum-studio/

Pendulum is honored to share that our Montreal Excitation concept, a ballpark, practice facility, and concert venue has been awarded a Rethinking The Future (@Rthinkingfuture) ACDA 2020 First Award for Sports & Recreation Concept.

Pendulum’s concept is sited on the historic 1967 World’s Fair Island in Montreal Quebec Canada. This fact offered a significant challenge: how do we respect the historical significance of the site while embracing the beautiful natural topography and pay homage to the signature architecture that surrounds it?

Montreal Excitation Site Plan

Challenge Accepted

One of the stated goals of our concept is to provide site connectivity both physically and visually. Pedestrian plazas, walking trails, boat docking areas, and concourse breezeways create connection to adjacent site features. Because of the interruption of the angular extrusions in the building facade individuals within the facility are allowed to look out and view adjacent iconic architecture and landscape.

Many thanks to Rethinking The Future and the Jury Panel for their hard work and consideration. It is humbling and an absolute honor to be recognized by our international design peers.

RTF Awards Invites Architects and Interior Designers from across the World to submit their Built/Concept Projects

“Rethinking The Future Awards program aims to bring exceptional works in the field of Architecture the prestige they deserve. The objective of these awards is to raise awareness around the strategies Architects and Designers are employing to deal with the contemporary global challenges, and to bring the best of such projects into the light to inspire the next generation”

Contrasting Night & Day Rendering From Island Shore

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VenuesNow All-Stars Rountable Follow Up

VenuesNow All-Stars Rountable Video

After being named a member of the VenuesNow 2020 All-Stars class, Our CEO Jonathan O’Neil Cole was invited to join a Facebook Live roundtable of industry experts. The panel moderated by Jeff Nickler of the Oak View Group was held on October 22nd covering a number of relevant topics currently on the minds of many.

To view a recording of the Facebook Live broadcast click the link above. The hour long program covers topics for conversation that include:

  1. The impact of COVID19 on daily business operations
  2. Thoughts on public assembly post COVID19 – See Pendulum’s thoughts in white paper releases: Part One & Part Two
  3. Diversity & Inclusion in the Sports Marketplace
VenuesNow All-Star Panelists

VenuesNow 2020 All-Stars Selection Criteria:

COVID-19 stopped the live industry in its tracks in March and left event professionals with many more questions than answers. Many of the 2020 honorees stood out for their ideas and efforts to revive the business in the face of a pandemic and make important changes necessary for fans to return to sporting events and concerts. The VenuesNow moderator sat down with a select group of 2020 VenuesNow All-Stars to talk about how they navigated 2020 and what the future holds for the venue and facility business.

Related Posts:

Jonathan O’Neil Cole – VenuesNow 2020 All-Stars

USAToday Sports, Venues Game-Plan

For Immediate Release – Pendulum CEO Jonathan O’Neil Cole Announced As Member of 2020 VenuesNow All-Stars Class

VenuesNow 2020 All-Stars Class Member Jonathan O’Neil Cole, AIA, NCARB, NOMA

Kansas City, Missouri, October 21, 2020

VenuesNow, a B2B trade publication that covers live entertainment venues across the globe has announced their 2020 All-Stars Class. To see the full web feature click this link: VenuesNow 2020 All-Star Feature

The honorees are identified, researched and debated by the VenuesNow editorial team. They also solicit opinions of those who work in the sports industry. Regarding the selection process VenuesNow stated, “we evaluated individuals for factors that included documented excellence, innovation, financial success, commitment to diversity, and leadership in their field, in addition to their response to the challenges that 2020 has brought. We tried to recognize people at multiple levels of the business, not just those at the top.”

Pendulum is thrilled about Jonathan O’Neil Cole’s selection because it advances the Pendulum brand recognition as an established name in the sports architecture marketplace – we are here to stay. Regarding the announcement Cole stated:

“It is incredibly meaningful to receive recognition from a publication as prestigious as VenuesNow and editorial staff that is at the center of everything sport. Acknowledgment from journalists that rub shoulders with the thought-leaders and powerhouses of the industry on a daily basis is humbling. It reinforces that we are working at a very high level. It also bolsters my staff’s confidence in our methodology and relentless work ethic. This achievement is as much about my staff and family as it is about me; they all work incredibly hard, they support my vision, they drive innovation and are the foundation for our accomplishments over the last thirteen years – I am nothing without them.”

Cole has led design efforts on over twenty-five sports facilities across the nation in the last 24 years. During that time he has worked in the capacity of market leader, project designer, project architect and principal in charge.

Jonathan O’Neil Cole AIA, NCARB, NOMA : Resume

Recent News: Firm Acquisition

About VenuesNow:

VenuesNow magazine serves managers, owners, operators and bookers of arenas, amphitheaters, stadiums, performing arts centers, clubs, theaters and convention centers. VenuesNow covers the issues venues care about most, from front-of-house, including operations, security, technology, concessions, bookings, sponsorships, ticketing, tenants and beyond.

For more information please contact Michaela Simpson at Michaela.Simpson@pendulumkc.com

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Pendulum’s CEO Jonathan O’Neil Cole Announced as 2020 Big Brothers Big Sisters KC “Most Wanted Auction” Honoree

2020 marks the 15th year that Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City will host the “Most Wanted Auction” that recognizes 25 Honorees from the Kansas City business community.  They have been asked to raise funds and awareness for the benefit local youth.  Our CEO, Jonathan O’Neil Cole was recently announced as one of the selected honorees.  The video above provides  insight on a few of his passions in life and why charitable giving for this very worthy cause is important.

We are challenging all of our friends, collaborators, clients and colleagues to assist us in supporting @BBBSKC.  Although we are all negatively impacted by the current COVID19 pandemic we can’t overlook the heightened support needed by our youth…especially now.

Schedule:

  • November 12, 2020 – Silent Auction Items Available For bid
  • December 12, 2020 – Live Auction & Watch Party

What You Can Do Now:

In the upcoming weeks we’ll start posting digital shorts honoring some of our friends that have already donated funds or silent auction items for the cause – don’t get left out…we’d love to tell your story too!

Thank you so much for your support!

Montreal Quebec Canada Dreams

As architects we often spend a great deal of energy on projects that at the moment feel like the most important work we’ve ever done.  We forget that although we have influence over design we have no control over political will, the economy, and most of all territorial rights and approvals.  That being said, some of our best work gets locked away in the vault or collects dust on a shelf somewhere in the office.

Pendulum designed this ballpark with intensions for placement on the Expo 67 Island in Montreal Quebec Canada.  At the time it felt like the one opportunity we’d have in a long time to aggressively stretch our design thinking – after all, the ballpark is surrounded by architectural icons.

Unfortunately the project came to a screeching halt.  Ten years after the fact our CEO, Jonathan O’Neil Cole said he dreamt he attended an event at the facility….then he woke up with notes on required design adjustments…so that’s what we did.

We never stop thinking about how to make our projects better…As Jonathan always says: “Design Is Change”.

 

FUSE District – Phase One Progress & Announcements

One of the most fulfilling aspects of architectural practice is witnessing vision progress toward reality.  Pendulum’s CEO Jonathan O’Neil Cole spent time on site this week reviewing construction progress with City of Gastonia staff.  The project is currently on a trajectory for an on time completion January 2021.

The project experienced an additional boost with Brandon Bellamy, owner of the Velocity Companies announced as approved owner of the Gastonia, NC Atlantic League franchise.

Click Brandon’s name above for a link to the Baseball America official press release.

History was made…and it’s only the beginning.

Acknowledgements:

  • City of Gastonia, NC – Tenacity
  • Brandon Bellamy – Fuel
  • Jonathan Cole Sr. – Vision…

Venues Game-Plan For Safe Fan Visit – Pendulum in the News

As sports across the globe are beginning to return, organizations at all levels of play are actively contemplating the right approach with an obvious default to caution.  Pendulum’s Jonathan Cole is quoted in a recent article written by Joe Mock in USA Today Sports Weekly on the topic of seating bowls during the COVID era.  Also quoted is Nick Sunderhaus, a national security expert and collaborator in Pendulum’s Part-Two release of “Public Assembly Post COVID19” .

As we continue our conversations with owners, operators, athletes, and fans, it is clear that there are still many unanswered questions, but we are seeing movement in the sports marketplace.  NASCAR was the first sport in the USA to host fans at a large scale (30,000) and now we see college wood bat leagues including the Coastal Plain League and United Shores Professional Baseball League following suit in states that will allow it with up to 1,300 fans in attendance.

Part-Three of our five part series will address how the market is responding to change.  Is design the answer?  Stay tuned…

Cover-index-article as in print 7-8-2020-2

Cover-index-article as in print 7-8-2020-3

Cover-index-article as in print 7-8-2020-4

The Grill Nation Show Preview – Next up: Jason Grill & Pendulum’s Jonathan Cole

The Grill Nation Show featuring Jason Grill and Jonathan Cole will air on Saturday July 11, 2020 on KMBZ 980AM and on iTunes.  In this clip Cole answers the question “what is your favorite stadium (that you didn’t work on) and why?”  It is just a sneak peek of the full conversation that goes into detail about Pendulum’s history, inspirations, emotional muscle memory, and design methodology.

Be sure to tune in on Saturday…this will be a lot of fun!

 

For Immediate Release – Jonathan O’Neil Cole Acquires 100% Ownership of Pendulum Studio, LLC

Kansas City, Missouri, July 1, 2020

As founding principal, Jonathan O’Neil Cole has served as managing member and 51% owner of Pendulum, a Kansas City-based architecture firm, since its launch in 2007.  As of July 1, 2020 Cole has acquired the remaining 49% balance of company shares and shall continue serving in his role as practice leader and CEO.

“I am honored to be in the position to continue to lead Pendulum in the direction of growth and innovation.  While this acquisition is more of a formality, I do believe it will provide a great deal of clarity for our employees, collaborators, and past, present, and future clients.  While there are very few things I’d change about our history, we’ve certainly got an extremely bright future ahead of us,” Cole said.

About Pendulum

Founded in 2007 in Kansas City, Missouri, Pendulum has gained notoriety in the sports architecture marketplace with the design of thirteen built sports facilities and counting.  Of recent note Pendulum teamed with Florida based Fawley Bryant Architecture to complete the design of Cool Today Park, spring training home of the Atlanta Braves.  The completion of Cool Today Park in March of 2019 was quickly followed by the two firms being selected to design the  renovation of Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, spring training home of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals.  In addition to sports architecture Pendulum has developed a reputation for the design of unique Kansas City, Missouri commercial buildings including The Guild, RW/2 Studios, and Crosstown Substation.

About Jonathan O’Neil Cole, AIA, NCARB, NOMA

Education

    • 1990 – 1995 California Polytechnic University Pomona, Bachelor of Architecture

Positions Held

    • 1995 HNTB Corporation – Irvine, CA – Design Staff Member
    • 2001 HOK Sport S+V+E – Associate Staff Member
    • 2006 360 Architecture – Architect/Market Leader
    • 2007 Pendulum – Principal

Awards

    • 2020 Rethinking The Future Awards – Future Stadia
    • 2019 CSI Award, Innovative Design + Function – Wyco Vintage Broadway Kansas City, Missouri
    • 2019 CSI Award, Visionary Design – Cool Today Park North Port, Florida
    • 2018 CSI Award, Community Investment – The Corner Ballpark Detroit, Michigan
    • 2018 CSI Award, Excellence in Craftsmanship – Dunkin’ Donuts Park Hartford, Connecticut
    • 2018 Hartford Magazine Best Sports Venue – Dunkin’ Donuts Park Hartford, Connecticut
    • 2018 Kansas City Business Journal Coolest Office Award – Pendulum Headquarters Kansas City, Missouri
    • 2017 Ballpark Digest Best Ballpark Award – Dunkin’ Donuts Park Hartford, CT
    • 2017 Baseballparks.com Ballpark of the Year – Dunkin’ Donuts Park Hartford, CT
    • 2017 ACEC Michigan Engineering Eminent Connector Award – Jimmy John’s Field Utica, Michigan
    • 2017 Phoenix Community Impact Award Excellence in Brownfield Redevelopment – Jimmy John’s Field Utica, Michigan
    • 2017 IIDA Mid America Design Silver Award for Renovation & Restoration – Pendulum Headquarters Kansas City, Missouri
    • 2017 NOMA Honor Award, Built Category – Dunkin’ Donuts Park  Hartford, Connecticut
    • 2016 Ballpark Digest Best Renovation – AutoZone Park Memphis, Tennessee
    • 2014 EDC Cornerstone Award – Crosstown Substation Kansas City, Missouri
    • 2013 NOMA Design Excellence Citation – RW/2 Studio & The Guild Kansas City, Missouri
    • 2013 EDC Cornerstone Award for Residential Building – East Village Apartments Kansas City, Missouri 

For Immediate Release – The Pendulum Conversation Continues