CityPlace mixed-use project 'tops out' first 120,000 SF office building

Block Real Estate Services, LLC marked a construction milestone for its CityPlace Corporate Centre III office building with a traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony. Anchored by Mediware Information Systems, Inc., the 120,268-square foot building is the first of four Class A office buildings planned for the mixed-use project located at the southwest corner of College Boulevard and Highway 69 in Overland Park.

“We are honored that Mediware selected CityPlace as the home of its corporate headquarters, validating our premier mixed-use development designed for residents to live, work and play for years to come,” CityPlace Developer Ken Block said.

Community members involved in the planning, development and construction of the property, signed the project’s final steel beam before it was hoisted and placed atop the building on August 13.

Constructed by Titan Built, designed by Hoefer Wysocki Architects and developed by Block Development Company, the office building will include a blend of granite and precast panels andreflective glass in a modern design. 

“When we learned about the new construction at CityPlace, we knew we wanted to get in on the ground floor of this project," said Mediware CEO Bill Miller. "As we solidify our position as the leading innovator in health care and human services solutions, we needed a world headquarters that would reflect our vision of powering stronger, healthier communities.” 

Mediware, a leading supplier of software solutions that help health care and human services providers. will occupy floors three and four of the four-story building and has committed to a future lease term of 15 years and four months, beginning in June 2019.

Once complete, CityPlace will feature up to 600,250 square feet of office space, 1,382 multifamily units, 140 senior units, and up to 60,000 square feet of retail space. For more information about CityPlace, visit www.cityplacekc.com. For more information about Block Real Estate Services, LLC, visit www.blockllc.com.

'Resmercial,' blurred lines between office and home dominate Big KC Office Trend discussion

Office efficiencies and the blending of boundaries between home and work were among trends tackled by panelists at MetroWire Media's Big KC Office Trends event on March 29 at WeWork.

Check out a snapshot of talking points from the panel discussion led by JE Dunn Vice President Jon Dandurand: 

"Efficiency is the game now. When you have a market that is really tight like this one is, you have rents increasing. Companies are always looking for ways to keep their costs down, so I would say they are getting a lot more efficient. It used to be an average of 200-250 square feet per person, and we are now seeing 150-200 square feet per person, and I see that trend continuing as companies get a lot smarter with their space going forward." -Rollie Fors, Colliers

"Creating a living room and a more residential feeling in the office environment is completely on trend and where things are going. That living room-style space really supports workers and their activities. Sometimes those common spaces are almost an afterthought. We spend so much time thinking about the workspace and then get to the end and think, 'let's throw a sofa and couple chairs in there' ... If we start planning those common spaces and shared amenities first, then you can really create dynamic spaces." -Stacey Roth, Scott Rice

"Engagement is one of the biggest topics we discuss with clients these days. It's interesting how space really can affect positively or negatively the connection you have with people on your team and clients. So what we find is the more we can create spaces within your place and give people the choice and control of how they work and when they work then we find the engagement level can be improved." -Trevor Hoiland, Burns & McDonnell

"The demographics are not changing how we work. The difference is coming from technology. that it is proliferating the hours We work from 5 am when we wake up to midnight when we go to bed, and It means our office space is becoming more like home and our home is becoming more like office space. It's creating a different type of product." -Aaron Schlagel, Ryan Companies

"Workspace efficiency has really changed the way companies look for space. From a development landowner perspective, we try to build amenities like rooftop patios into all of our projects as well as plenty of unique spaces outside the usual tenant footprint, so for example employees can enjoy getting away from their offices with shared conference rooms versus dedicated conference rooms." -Vince Bryant, 3D Development

Check out an event slideshow below. Photos by ArchPhotoKC.

Cushman & Wakefield opens high-tech, collaborative Plaza West office

Cushman & Wakefield's Kansas City corporate office has relocated to a 10,000-square foot, high-tech, collaborative space on the 8th floor of the Plaza West building, 4600 Madison Ave.

"As the workforce changes, we have the ability to adapt quickly. The technology package we have here allows us to work anywhere," said Cushman & Wakefield Principal Mike Mayer. "The space is built for change and designed so we can even move the walls if we need to."

The office provides a mix of open areas and private, enclosed spaces, including both assigned offices as well as "focus-and-huddle" rooms. In addition, the space offers seamless interactive technologies, fully wireless connectivity and conferencing, ergonomic work spaces, moveable walls, and glass sliding doors on the main conference room to easily create a large, central gathering space adjacent to the kitchen area.

"Flexibility is the key, and this space allows for collaboration not only with each other but also with clients," Mayer said.

With floor-to-ceiling windows and treetop views of Kansas City to the south, the space is heavily branded with Cushman and Wakefield corporate signage but also includes local touches such as a decorative steel art piece installed by local engineering firm and fabricator Zahner Co. 

The metal panel at the office entrance forms a rough map of Kansas City's highway system using a series of dots and was designed by Cushman & Wakefield's local Marketing Manager Ashley Resner.

"Corporate real estate really drives your brand. We advise clients about that," Mayer said. "So, this new space allows us to implement our own best practices."

Bells and whistles include full kitchen with bar seating and beer on tap, a wellness area, restaurant-style meeting booths, and floor-to-ceiling wipe-board maps of the Kansas City region.  

Project partners included BRR Architecture,architecture and design services and Mid-America Contracting, general contractor. Cushman & Wakefield leveraged its in-house project management team to coordinate the build-out and relocation. Todd Gast, who leads the project and development team locally,  oversaw construction. Project Manager Scott Quarterson and Assistant Project Manager Josh Scott helped create additional efficiencies.

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.