Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Everything’s Up to Date in Kansas City” has perhaps never beenappropriate than it is today. Forward-thinking politicians, developers and urban planners have created new and improved places for visitors and residents to enjoy, from a performing arts center and sports arena to museum additions and entertainment districts. Here are some of the exciting changes taking place.

Power & Light District
The vibrant eight-block district is aprimary revitalizing force for downtown Kansas City, Mo. Think broad streets, open storefronts, a generous helping of restaurants, a gourmet grocery store and an outdoor performance area.

Following the first phase that opened in early 2008, the project will feature
approximately more than half a million square feet of retail, restaurants, entertainment and loft living. New and unique tenants are signing on every day. One block of the district features Kansas City Live!, which is designed for music and festivals.

The dynamic district will eventually have a blend of hip boutiques, unique concept stores, clubs and lounges that will launch Kansas City as a true 24-hour city.

Liberty Memorial
Originally dedicated on November 11, 1926, the restored museum and tower were rededicated and reopened on May 25, 2002. But that was just phase one. Since then, the museum has received major funding boosts. A second-phase addition included a 230-seat auditorium and an education center beneath the memorial. And the third and final phase — a 30,000 museum expansion below the tower — opened in December 2006.

Recognized by Congress as our country’s only WWI monument, the Liberty Memorial has the largest and most comprehensive collection of World War I artifacts, relics and archival materials in the world.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
The internationally known design team of Moshe Safdie & Associates, Theatre Projects Consultants and Nagata Acoustics will provide the backdrop for performances by local arts organizations when this stunning building opens in 2010.

Patrons will enjoy a 1,800-seat proscenium theater designed for touring Broadway shows, concerts and comedians, as well as the Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera. A 1,600-seat concert hall will host the Kansas City Symphony and performances by other mid-size musical organizations.

Along with the center’s approximate 285,000 square feet, a 1,000-space parking garage also will become part of the complex.

The Bloch Building at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Acclaimed architect Steven Holl’s glass lenses are the competition-winning addition to the original neoclassical Nelson-Atkins building. Composed of five interconnected structures as opposed to a single massive expansion, the design might be Holl’s greatest professional achievement. Opened June 2007, the addition offers new spaces and angles unparalleled by almost any other structure in the Midwest. Though a style departure from the existing structure, the Bloch Building — named in honor of longtime benefactor and museum trustee, Henry Bloch, and his wife, Marion — complements renovations to the original museum building, picturesque lawn and sculpture park.

Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
Designed by Cambridge, Mass.-based architect Kyu Sung Woo, the Nerman Museum opened spring 2007 on the Johnson County Community College campus in Overland Park. Supported by and named in honor of local art collectors Jerome and Margaret Nerman, the 36,000-square-foot Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is a departure from the college’s mostly brick façade. The Nerman family donated $1.5 million to help establish the glass and limestone addition, which adjoins the new Regnier Center for Technology and Business, designed by local firm Gould Evans Architects. In addition to providing exhibition space, the museum offers arts education opportunities for both children and adults.

Schlitterbahn Vacation Village
The popular Texas-based water parks opened in Kansas in 2009. The newest addition to the chain continues construction on additional phases on a 370-acre track near Village West in Kansas City, Kan. The water park’s first phase includes tubing slides, chutes, rivers, beaches and other unique features like the Storm Blaster, Loopy Luge mat slide and Henry’s Hideout. Future phases will include more water rides, River Walk attractions, and shopping, dining and lodging venues.

Sprint Center
Kansas City is a major hub of sports architecture firms, and four of them collaborated to design the 18,500-seat Sprint Center, opened fall 2007. Ellerbe Becket, Populous (formerly HOK), 360 Architecture and Rafael Architects Inc. — collectively known as the Downtown Arena Design Team (DADT) — designed the glass structure to reflect the downtown skyline. The cornerstone of downtown’s revitalization, the Sprint Center hosts basketball, hockey, concerts, family shows and special events.

College Basketball Experience
and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
As part of the $276 million Sprint Center, the College Basketball Experience and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame celebrate the history of men’s collegiate basketball. It honors coaches, players and contributors who have made an impact on the game. A museum and interactive adventure alike, visitors are able to work with hands-on exhibits and experience basketball like never before.