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Jay Tomlinson Receives Fellowship from AIA

Almost every action Jay Tomlinson has taken over his 30-year career has been oriented around creating a vibrant urban core—whether renovating historic structures or adding new buildings to the landscape.

Since he watched construction workers slip the keystone into the Saint Louis Arch as a young child, Jay has sustained the conviction that well-designed structures lead to more vibrant people and places.

A founding principal of Helix Architecture + Design, Jay built his practice around the question: Is it good for the city? He has engaged in all forms of community building—physical, economic, and cultural to make his city a better place.

Toward this goal, Jay found innovative ways to make preservation work financially viable and environmentally sustainable. He assumed leadership positions in city government to make sure it supports and rewards positive development. And he created and/or led organizations—the Urban Society of Kansas City, the Charlotte Street Foundation, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum Friends of Art—to enrich the fabric of urban life.