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44-583: Designed by Rapp & Rapp , the 90,000-square-foot (8,400 m) theater opened on October 30, 1921 as the Mainstreet Missouri. The 3,200-seat theater was a popular vaudeville and movie house, and the only theater in Kansas City designed by Chicago firm Rapp and Rapp. The interior was designed in French Baroque style, and the exterior is a blend of neoclassical and French Second Empire . The lobby

88-459: A constitution and bylaws under the name New York Society of Architects. The name was later changed to the American Institute of Architects at the suggestion of Thomas U. Walter. On April 15, 1857, the members signed the new constitution, having previously filed a certificate of incorporation two days earlier. The following year, the constitution was amended to include the mission of promoting

132-615: A joint venture, Midland-Empire Partners LLC, to redevelop the Empire Theater and the nearby Midland Theatre . The AMC Mainstreet Theater opened to the public under its original name as part of the Power & Light District on May 1, 2009, after a test period of playing second-run films for employees and invited guests beginning April 18, 2009. The theater also hosted the Kansas City Film Festival April 22–26, 2009. AMC stated

176-434: A list of 25 buildings in the central business district believed to be significant downtown landmarks "worthy of attention and reuse". The Empire Theater was listed as the most endangered building at the time: The building had fallen into such disrepair that bricks fell from the building and trees sprouted from the roof. The City of Kansas City reached an agreement to purchase the theater from Larry Bridges in late 2004 while it

220-537: A relationship leading to the construction of many early movie palaces . In 1926 Paramount Pictures bought a controlling interest in Balaban & Katz, after which the Rapp office gained a national practice. C. Ward Rapp died the same year, leaving his brother to head the firm. The firm diversified its practice away from theatres during the 1930s, and designed a variety of commercial and industrial projects. During this period Rapp

264-875: Is a professional organization for architects in the United States . It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach programs, and collaborates with other stakeholders in the design and construction industries. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) was founded in 1857 in New York City by a group of thirteen architects. The founding members include Charles Babcock , Henry W. Cleaveland , Henry Dudley , Leopold Eidlitz , Edward Gardiner , Richard Morris Hunt , Detlef Lienau , Fred A. Petersen , Jacob Wrey Mould , John Welch , Richard M. Upjohn , and Joseph C. Wells , with Richard Upjohn serving as

308-552: Is no national AIA membership category specifically for students, they can join the American Institute of Architecture Students . The AIA's most esteemed recognition is the Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) designation. This honor is awarded to members who have made nationally significant contributions to the profession. Approximately 2% of all members, or slightly more than 2,600 individuals, have been elevated to

352-452: Is not to be confused with the Trinidad, Colorado practice of their brothers Isaac H. Rapp (1854–1933) and William M. Rapp (1863–1920) or the notable Cincinnati architects George W. Rapp and Walter L. Rapp , to whom they were not related. Cornelius Ward Rapp was born December 26, 1860. In the 1880s he moved to Chicago, where he worked for architect Cyrus P. Thomas. In 1889, the two formed

396-480: Is topped by a dome encircled by circular windows. The Mainstreet Theater was the largest theater in Kansas City until the Midland Theatre opened in 1927. The Mainstreet was the first theater in Kansas City to have a nursery for children whose parents were attending a show. Located in the basement and staffed by a trained nurse, it offered toys and games for older children and cribs for babies. A tunnel connected

440-470: The Clinton Global Initiative . This initiative involved a design contest conducted in partnership with charitable organizations such as Make It Right, SBP , and Architecture for Humanity . The contest focused on single-family housing designs aimed at enhancing the quality, diversity, and resilience of housing in each community. The portfolio of designs, including those from non-winning entries,

484-459: The " City of Fountains ", the Empire included decorative fountains in the box office area and at the main staircase. The prominent signage suspended from scaffolding attached to the building's roof during the "Mainstreet" and "RKO Missouri" eras was removed when Durwood converted the theater to the Empire. The Empire kept an organist until 1961 when there was a dispute with the musicians' union. In 1967,

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528-686: The "Dr. George Ehrlich Achievement in Preservation Award" by the Historic Kansas City Foundation . On June 4, 2012, it was announced Alamo Drafthouse Cinema would take over operations of the theater. As of June 25, 2012 Alamo Drafthouse had the Mainstreet theater listed on their web site and were selling tickets. On or about March 3, 2021, the owners of the Kansas City Alamo Drafthouse announced they would be closing

572-641: The 2007 Associations Advance America Awards, two of the AIA's public outreach efforts earned the Award of Excellence: The Blueprint for America nationwide community service initiative, and the Sustainability 2030 Toolkit, a resource created to encourage mayors and community leaders to advocate environmentally friendly building design. The national competition was sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives and

616-611: The AIA College of Fellows. Prominent foreign architects may also be elected as Honorary Fellows of the AIA, gaining recognition within the college. The AIA operates under the governance of a board of directors and maintains a staff of nearly 200 employees. While the AIA serves as a national organization, its reach is extended through its 217 local and state chapters. Chapters span the United States and its territories. AIA components also operate in several international locations, including

660-507: The AIA boasted over 300 chapters. In the mid-1960s, a design competition was held to select an architect for a new AIA headquarters located at 1735 New York Avenue , NW, in Washington, D.C. Mitchell Giurgola Architects won the competition but failed to gain approval from the United States Commission of Fine Arts for the design concept. Subsequently, the firm resigned from the commission, and The Architects Collaborative (TAC)

704-414: The AIA works in collaboration with federal legislators and local governments to improve the design of public spaces, protect infrastructure, and facilitate the development of affordable housing that is accessible to all Americans while ensuring high-quality design standards. In June 2013, the American Institute of Architects unveiled the "Designing Recovery" initiative during CGI America, an annual event of

748-497: The Center for Association Leadership. The AIA recognizes individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements in support of the architecture profession and the AIA. For new and restoration projects anywhere in the world: This award, recognizing architectural design of enduring significance, is conferred on a project that has stood the test of time for 25 to 35 years. The project must have been designed by an architect licensed in

792-550: The Empire several times and even obtained a pre-demolition inspection permit from the city in August 2003. Bridges planned to team with DST Realty to build a new headquarters for Kansas City Power & Light on the site. The City of Kansas City blocked the plan, which had called for saving the facade but demolishing the core structure of the Empire. In 2004, the Kansas City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects compiled

836-543: The Empire was often at risk for demolition. Numerous efforts took place to prevent each demolition attempt. In 1986, actor and comedian George Burns joined the effort and wrote a letter to have the theater declared a historic landmark. Since the theater was not listed as a local landmark or listed on the National Register of Historic Places , there was not much legal protection to prevent the deteriorating structure's demolition. Owner Larry Bridges expressed desire to raze

880-414: The Empire's three strip Cinerama with the seamless 70 mm film version. The 70 by 30-foot (9.1 m) Walker Hi Gain motion picture screen was designed to collapse, fold, and store on stage within two and a half hours to allow for quick conversion for live stage events. The stage curtain measured more than 120 feet (37 m) and claimed to be the world's largest. In keeping with Kansas City's reputation as

924-556: The Italian American Unification Council in Kansas City spent $ 2,500 to purchase all the seats of the premier showing of Francis Ford Coppola ’s film The Godfather at the Empire. While the film played to an empty house, the Council sponsored a benefit dance down the street. Prominent downtown landowner Larry Bridges purchased the Empire Theater in 1986 from Stan Durwood, then CEO of AMC Theatres. Between 1985 and 2005,

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968-403: The Mainstreet is its "flagship theater", spending $ 30 million on the renovation. The renovated theater's ground floor has three standard auditoriums, while the upper level features "cinema suites" with reclining loungers, food trays, and a call button to summon a server. All auditoriums feature 4k digital projection and 11 channel sound, including overhead speakers and bass shakers mounted under

1012-567: The National Architectural Accrediting Board. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has a membership of over 98,000 licensed architects and associated professionals. AIA members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct designed to demonstrate commitment to upholding the highest standards in professional practice and dedication. AIA offers membership at five different levels: Many local and state AIA chapters offer student membership categories. While there

1056-582: The RKO Missouri Theater in April 1941. The RKO Missouri ran Cinerama three strip film. AMC Theatres , then known as Durwood Theatres, bought the theater in the late 1950s and reopened it in December 1960 as the Empire. The first film shown at the theater under the new name was Exodus . The new Empire's seating configuration was reduced to 1260 to accommodate modern amenities and technology. Durwood replaced

1100-548: The United Kingdom, Continental Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Canada. These chapters offer programming and direct services to support AIA members at various stages of their professional careers. AIA monitors legislative and regulatory activities and encourages its members to actively participate in decision-making processes at the federal, state, and local levels. By engaging in community-based programs,

1144-546: The artistic, scientific, and practical aspects of architecture, facilitating professional interaction and camaraderie, raising the profession's standing, and uniting architects for the advancement of the field. In the 1860s, architects from other cities began joining the AIA. By the 1880s, chapters had been established in Albany , Baltimore , Boston , Chicago , Cincinnati , Indianapolis , Philadelphia , Rhode Island , San Francisco , St. Louis , and Washington, D.C. As of 2008,

1188-551: The basement and sub-basement to keep animals for vaudeville shows. The space included an elephant cage, a pool for seals, and an elevator large and powerful enough to haul elephants to the stage. Noted performers such as Cab Calloway , Charlie Chaplin , Harry Lauder , the Marx Brothers , and Olsen and Johnson headlined at the vaudeville house. In the early 1920s, at the height of the theater's popularity, attendance averaged over 4,000 daily. The Mainstreet Theater's name changed to

1232-670: The best known was the Majestic Theatre, now the CIBC Theatre . After seven years with Krause he joined his brother to form the firm of C. W. & George L. Rapp, commonly known as Rapp & Rapp. Following early success with the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa , the new firm quickly specialized in theatres. In 1917 they began working with the Balaban & Katz chain of movie theatres,

1276-601: The design of some 400 theatres, most of which were built in the 1920s. They designed many movie palaces , including a number of atmospheric theatres , which utilized romantic architectural elements to evoke specific times and places. Their only surviving atmospheric theatre in Chicago is the Gateway Theatre, now the Copernicus Center , completed in 1930. If murals were to be included in the theatres, Louis Grell of Chicago

1320-399: The first president. They held their inaugural meeting on February 23, 1857, and invited 16 additional architects to join, including Alexander Jackson Davis , Thomas U. Walter , Frederick Clarke Withers , and Calvert Vaux . There were no architectural schools or licensing laws in the United States at the time, allowing anyone to claim to be an architect. By March 10, 1857, they had drafted

1364-481: The generation of new ideas and responses. Local components provide support to younger professionals through programs such as the Intern Development Program , Architect Registration Exam preparation courses, and employment referral services. The AIA organizes an annual conference held in late spring or early summer, which attracts the largest gathering of architects worldwide. The AIA attempts to meet

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1408-592: The location permanently due to the COVID-19 pandemic . In April 2021 (only a month later), B&B Theatres acquired the Mainstreet Theater, and it reopened at the end of September 2021. Rapp %26 Rapp C. W. & George L. Rapp , commonly known as Rapp & Rapp , was an American architectural firm famed for the design of movie palaces and other theatres. Active from 1906 to 1965 and based in Chicago ,

1452-409: The needs and interests of the nation's architects and the public by raising public awareness of the value of architecture and the importance of good design. To mark the AIA's 150th anniversary and to showcase how members have helped shape the built environment, the AIA and Harris Interactive released findings from a public poll that asked Americans to name their favorite 150 works of architecture. At

1496-578: The office designed over 400 theatres, including the Chicago Theatre (1921), Bismarck Hotel and Theatre (1926) and Oriental Theater (1926) in Chicago, the Five Flags Center (1910) in Dubuque, Iowa and the Paramount Theatres in New York City (1926) and Aurora, Illinois (1931). The named partners were brothers C. Ward Rapp (1860–1926) and George L. Rapp (1878–1941), sons of a builder and natives of Carbondale, Illinois . Their Chicago practice

1540-533: The partnership of Thomas & Rapp. This was dissolved in 1895, when both opened independent offices. Rapp's major projects over the next eleven years included Altgeld Hall (1895–96) and Wheeler Hall (1903–04) at what is now Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the Coles County Courthouse (1898–99) in Charleston . His father was superintendent of construction for both Carbondale buildings. Rapp

1584-406: The seats. AMC claims it is one of the world's most technologically advanced theater setups. The lobby area features a restaurant called The Marquee which opened on Friday, March 27, 2009. Early reports claimed the theater would feature "documentaries, independent, and foreign films", but upon opening the selection was limited to mainstream Hollywood films. On May 26, 2009, the theater was awarded

1628-425: The theater was split in two when a second theater was constructed in the former balcony of the original theater. In 1980 AMC converted the Empire into four theaters and it was known as Empire 4 Theaters. Two of the additional theaters were in the upper level where the original balcony once existed. The Empire stopped screening films and closed in 1985. In 1972, as a protest against what it called "cultural prejudices",

1672-476: The theater's lower level to the nearby President Hotel at 14th and Baltimore. Built to allow actors to enter the theater from their dressing rooms, it became infamous as a passage for bootleggers to escape police during Prohibition . The supposed tunnel is not shown on the Sanborn fire insurance map for 1939 (The Sanborn Map Co., New York, Kansas City 1939-1940 vol. 1, 1939, Sheet 34). The theater also had space in

1716-599: Was acquiring properties for the future Power and Light District. In November 2005, the State of Missouri approved up to $ 938,538 in Brownfields Redevelopment Program remediation tax credits to help offset costs involved in the cleanup of asbestos at the theater. An estimated 200 dump-truck loads of asbestos and mold-covered debris were removed from the theater during the cleanup process. Power & Light District developer Cordish reached an agreement with AMC to form

1760-526: Was an independent practitioner until 1906, when he formed a partnership with his younger brother, George L. Rapp. George Leslie Rapp was born February 16, 1878. He was educated in the School of Architecture of the University of Illinois , graduating in 1899. He then followed his brother to Chicago, where he joined the office of architect Edmund R. Krause. Of the projects completed by Krause during Rapp's employment,

1804-480: Was chosen to redesign the building. Led by TAC principals Norman Fletcher and Howard Elkus, the design was ultimately approved in 1970 and completed in 1973. In 2007, on the organization's 150th anniversary, the building was officially renamed the "American Center for Architecture." It also serves as the home of the American Institute of Architecture Students, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, and

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1848-489: Was commissioned to paint them. Many of the theatres and other buildings designed by the Rapp brothers have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places . Some of the notable buildings that the firm designed include: [REDACTED] Media related to Rapp & Rapp at Wikimedia Commons American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects ( AIA )

1892-556: Was joined by Mason Gerardi Rapp, son of his elder brother William M. Rapp . After George L. Rapp's retirement in 1938, Mason G. Rapp succeeded to the practice. After the death of his uncle in 1941 he renamed the firm Rapp & Rapp, which had always been its common name. In 1965 Rapp retired, and the firm was dissolved. Mason G. Rapp died in 1978. The Rapp brothers were among a group of highly influential American theatre architects, which also included Thomas W. Lamb of New York City and John Eberson of Chicago. They were responsible for

1936-527: Was made available to communities recovering from natural disasters. Dow Building Solutions sponsored the contest, providing a total prize money of $ 30,000. The prize was equally distributed among three winning designs from New Orleans, Louisiana; Joplin, Missouri; and New York City. AIA members actively contribute to their profession and communities by participating in various professional interest areas, ranging from design to regional and urban development. They also engage with professional academies that foster

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