ULI 2017 Developments of Distinction: 10th & Wyandotte Parking Garage

The 10th & Wyandotte Parking Garage replaced a blighted, 30-year old parking garage at a busy intersection in Downtown Kansas City. Because the structure was an integral part of the neighborhood with high visibility, BNIM enlisted the support of artist Andy Brayman to quite literally breathe art into the design of the parking garage. 

"(BNIM was) interested in having an artist work on the project and not have it be just sort of a piece made that would be tacked onto the garage at the end. The thought of (the art) kind of being integrated into the process early on seemed really different to me and really exciting," Brayman said.

The goal was to create a structure that contributes to the neighborhood and environment rather than merely serving as a placeholder. 

"It was just an opportunity within the garage to do something fun and unique and interesting," said BNIM Principal Craig Scranton. "The holes inside allow for ventilation within the garage so that allows us to be an open parking garage... it was a cost effective, low energy solution to a parking structure, so it’s very functional and also artistic."

According to BNIM Designer Elvis Achelpohl, BNIM sought an artistic yet functional solution to "puncture" the garage and create pattern to ensure air would flow through the structure. 

"The concept is just creating ornamentation with the rules inherent in precast garage typology," Achelpohl said. "I think there are about 5,000 or 6,000 holes in the piece, and Andy was able to make about 10 percent of those have a ceramic tiles that are embedded, and that’s the color you see (from the outside)."

Brayman worked to ensure movement of air within the facade while creating different panels with decorative ventilation holes in a variety of colors, shapes and patterns. 

"It wasn’t just a cookie-cutter thing where every panel was the same as the next," he said.

The result is a functional yet aesthetically pleasing community improvement, one that caught the attention and respect of ULI Kansas City's Developments of Distinction panel of judges. 

"We think this garage is a lot more interesting than before, and I hope it has a positive impact on the next door neighbors," Scranton said.

Project partners include: MC Realty Group, developer; BNIM, architect; Burns & McDonnell, general contractor; Bob D. Campbell, engineering services; Custom Engineering, engineering services; Taliaferro & Browne, engineering services; The Matter Factory/Andy Brayman, artistic services. 

Platform launches new retail/office phase at New Longview as B&B goes vertical

The New Longview area in Lee's Summit is busy with construction activity as a huge crane finished tilting the exterior concrete walls last week for B&B Theatres' new boutique cinema located in the New Urbanism-themed commercial project. The theatre will include all-leather reclining seating, a full kitchen, a full bar, and a lounge and patio area.  

The property owner, a fund under the management of Platform Ventures (formerly Mariner Real Estate), is using the momentum to announce master plans for three to six additional retail and office buildings adjacent to the B&B Theatres project available for lease. The new phase on the north side of Fascination Drive within New Longview will include up to 60,000 square feet of space available for a mixture of commercial uses. 

"We are speaking with several potential tenants for office and retail buildings planned for 'Fascination North,' " said Platform Ventures Senior Vice President Corey Walker. 

The new buildings are conceived as creative/loft-style space and should attract a wide range of creative office, restaurant, retail, and medical-office users who appreciate the unique 'sense of place' that comes with a walkable project like New Longview, according to Brandon LaSala of NAI Heartland, which is marketing the project's office space. 

"We are really excited to work on lease-up of the next phase of retail/office buildings," LaSala said. "There is even a three-story headquarters office building availability that we've been discussing with a few users, and we look forward to some exciting announcements."

Office availabilities range from 1,000 to 8,000 square feet, plus a 55,000 square feet HQ office lot. Those interested in office space can contact Brandon LaSala here. 

Retail and restaurant availabilities range from 1,000 to 5,000 square feet. For more information, you can contact Chad LaSala here. 

The District at City Center seeks to fill void in Lenexa's office and retail market

Construction is officially underway for The District at City Center, a mixed-use project that brings additional luxury apartments, first-class retail and full-floor office space to the Lenexa City Center development area at 87th Street Parkway and Renner Boulevard.

The District will add 175 luxury residential apartments, 45,000 square feet of office and 35,000 square feet of retail to the already successful Domain apartments and the recently opened Lenexa City Hall and Civic Campus.

Designed to complement the existing 800,000 square feet of retail, office and recreational mixed uses at Lenexa City Center, The District will fill a unique void in the Lenexa office and retail submarket with full floor offices for 5,000 square foot tenants plus much-needed first class retail space, according to Keith Copaken of Copaken Brooks.

“We are well underway with the District and City Center, as well as Lenexa as a whole, and are really hitting on all cylinders right now,” Copaken said.  “I’m not sure you could find a more exciting and active area in the Kansas City metro area right now.”

The District is scheduled to open in March of 2019 and is being co-developed by longtime Kansas City office and retail developer Copaken Brooks and residential lifestyle development firm EPC Real Estate Group.

“EPC is thrilled to create another development that provides convenience, connectivity and community. The District is located in a prime location adjacent to restaurants, office, the Public Market, and the Lenexa Civic Center just to name a few. People love the ability to be a short walk or drive away from an experience,” said Brendon O’Leary, EPC Real Estate Group vice president of development.

At the District's groundbreaking on Tuesday, Copaken thanked the City of Lenexa for serving as a valued partner: “None of this would be possible without the foresight, guidance and determination from the City...  Lenexa has been a great development partner in every sense of the word and every step of the way.”

Lenexa Mayor Michael Boehm said it is gratifying to watch a long-time dream take shape. 

“We could not be more pleased with all the development activity in the City Center area. It really has become what we and the community originally envisioned - the city and civic hub of the City of Lenexa,” Boehm said in a release. 

The District at City Center officially broke ground on Tuesday, September 19.

The project team for The District at City Center Lenexa includes: Copaken Brooks (Co-developer, office leasing agent & property manager), EPC Real Estate Group (Co-developer, apartment leasing agent & property manager), Klover Architects (architect), Studio A Architecture (residential consultant), BSE (structural engineer), Latimer Sommers & Associates (mechanical design), Phelps Engineering (civil engineer - private), GBA Architects Engineers (civil engineer - public), HarenLaughlin Construction (general contractor), Richard Clayton Barrett (landscape design) and Lewis Rice (legal).

For more information about The District, email Ryan Biery at rbiery@copaken-brooks.com. Or check out more about the project here. 

Terracon tops out new Olathe headquarters

Terracon "topped out" the frame of its new headquarters at Ridgeview Avenue and College Boulevard on Tuesday, less than six months after the $21 million project was announced. Completion is set for March of 2018.

The new 65,000 square foot office building will accommodate about 200 existing employees and will emphasize collaborative spaces, including a new training conference center and expanded amenities. 

"Terracon's new headquarters reflects our continued growth strategy, as well as our commitment to remain part of the Olathe business community," said Terracon President Swaminathan Srinivasan. "Our goal is to inspire our employees while we focus on our future and serve our clients in new, innovative ways."

The new building is a business retention win for the City of Olathe and the State of Kansas; Terracon has been headquartered in Olathe for more than 10 years and sought several locations on both sides of the state line before deciding on new construction near its current location.

Kansas City Animal Health Corridor welcomes new companies to Olathe and Lee's Summit

The KC Animal Health Corridor has added two new companies, with Maxxam Analytics and Companion Animal Health announcing plans to open new facilities in the metro area at the KC Animal Health Corridor Homecoming Dinner Monday night. 

Maxxam Analytics, a leading North American provider of food and environmental testing services, has opened a 3,000 square foot food testing laboratory at Kansas State University Olathe. 

"Maxxam is proud of our ongoing partnership with Kansas State University Olathe as we provide food testing- an essential component of the animal nutrition industry - to the list of services provided in the KC Animal Health Corridor," said Donna Garbutt, CEO of Maxxam Analytics.

With more than 50 years of expertise, Maxxam looks to establish itself as the clear choice for analytical food testing within the Animal Health Corridor for both existing and new business partners. The company will test a new delivery model for its products to expand nationwide.

"K-State Olathe's partnership with Maxxam will have many benefits for Greater Kansas City's workforce and for pets everywhere," said Ralph Richardson, dean and CEO of K-State Olathe. " Maxxam is helping ensure that our pets are consuming safer food, creating new jobs in Olathe and helping usher in a more skilled workforce for the region."

In addition, Companion Animal Health, a Delaware-based provider of therapeutic solutions to the veterinary industry, announced plans to open a regional office and training center for the company's rehabilitation and diagnostic services in Lee's Summit at 657 S.E. Bailey Road. 

"Companion Animal Health is a perfect 'companion' to the Lee's Summit community," said Lee's Summit EDC President Rick McDowell. "Recent market studies of our business landscape identified that the Lee's Summit business and educational ecosystem was ripe for the expansion of animal health and health related companies, so we are thrilled about this announcement."

The Kansas City Area Development Council provided project assistance to both Maxxam Analytics and Companion Animal Health for their expansions. Partners for the Companion Animal Health facility included the State of Missouri, the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council, the City of Lee's Summit, KCP&L, and the KC Animal Health Corridor. 

Partners for the Maxxam Analytics project included the State of Kansas, Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas State University Olathe, Olathe Chamber of Commerce, KCP&L, and the KC Animal Health Corridor.

“This year’s Global Animal Health Week celebrated the success we can all share when we work as ONE. New company and job attraction is one of those benefits that we are proud to share with our Corridor partners,” said Kimberly Young, president of the KC Animal Health Corridor. “We look forward to the new connections that will come from the expertise of Maxxam Analytics and Companion Animal Health, as well as the many other animal health companies that chose to invest in the Corridor over the last year.”

Companies with a business location in the KC Animal Health Corridor account for more than half of the sales generated by the global animal health industry. The Corridor is anchored by Manhattan, Kansas, and Columbia, Missouri and is home to more than 300 animal health companies representing the largest concentration of animal health assets in the world. 

For more information visit KCanimalhealth.com.