WICHITA, KS—Koch Industries Inc. has announced plans to build a new 210,000-sq.-ft. office building as an addition to its one-million-sq.-ft. headquarters here.
The product company said it is running out of space at its headquarters, and recently completed a feasibility study of what to do for more space. The new building, which will be built on the northwest side of the Koch campus, will have three stories plus a lower level and the capacity to accommodate 745 employees. The firm, with about 60,000 employees worldwide, currently employs more than 2,800 people in Wichita.
The free-standing building, which will connect to other buildings on the campus via walkways and tunnels, is the first phase of a long-term master plan to handle potential future growth. Construction of the new building will begin in the fall of 2013 with completion slated for mid-2015. In addition to office space, the new building will include a satellite Café Koch and training space.
Dave Robertson, president and COO, said in a statement that the firm has a large presence here. “Our growth has come about as a result of exciting innovations of all kinds. Our goal is to continue this rate of innovation as well as the pursuit of other opportunities and acquisitions. The result of all this is that Koch will create new jobs in Wichita,” he said.
As part of the construction, Koch is working with the city to reroute 37th Street North, to move it a quarter of a mile north. Robertson said the company will pay the entire cost of the road project.
Howard + Helmer architecture is the architect of record on the project. Professional Engineering Consultants is the project engineer.