BBBSKC

Jonathan O’Neil Cole
Founding Principal

Pendulum Studio

After starting his career at HNTB by working on the Oakland Coliseum and Oracle Arena renovations, then making stops at other major firms, Cole founded Pendulum Studio in 2007 as one of the few minority-owned architecture firms with a sports practice in the United States. Kansas City-based Pendulum has made a niche for itself in the minor league ballpark space and the design of spring training facilities, including the Atlanta Braves’ CoolToday Park in North Port, Fla., and the renovation of the Marlins and Cardinals’ joint facility in Jupiter, Fla. Cole’s unsolicited design concept for a new downtown ballpark and mixed-use development for the Kansas City Royals put the firm on the radar of MLB organizations, he said. “Our site received approximately 48,000 hits within the first 50 hours of the release,” he said of the Royals ballpark concept. “I knew we wouldn’t be receiving a call from the Royals asking our opinion on opportunities for an urban redevelopment. But now, for better or worse, we can’t be ignored.” — K.D.