Koch Industries to Build 210K SF Building on Wichita Campus

By Gabriel Circiog, Associate Editor

Koch Industries Inc. recently announced plans to expand its Wichita campus. Following the completion of a feasibility study, the company plans to enlarge its campus located on 37th Street North between Oliver and Hillside, a project which will include the construction of a new 210,000-square-foot office building.

The new three-story building, which will also include a lower level, will be located on the northwest side of the campus. The company, which currently employs over 2,800 people in Wichita and plans to significantly increase that number, will be able to accommodate 745 employees in the new construction.

The free-standing building will connect to the other buildings on the campus via walkways and tunnels. The construction represents the first phase of a long-term master plan to manage the company’s potential future growth. Ground breaking of the new building is scheduled in the fall of 2013, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected in mid-2015. Apart from the office space, the new building will also feature a satellite Café Koch and training space.

The company had planned an expansion since May of this year when it announced it was outgrowing its 1,025,000-square-foot Wichita headquarters. Over the course of the year, Koch has undertaken two projects to design and build out existing, underutilized space on its campus.

“We have more than a dozen Koch companies with a presence here in Wichita,” said Dave Robertson, president and COO of Koch Industries. “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.”

In order to accommodate the new building and additional parking, as well as possible future growth, Koch is collaborating with the City of Wichita on plans to reroute 37th Street North around one-quarter mile north of its current location. The costs would be fully paid for by Koch.

Locally based Howard + Helmer architecture is the architect of the project and Professional Engineering Consultants is the project engineer.

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