KANSAS CITY—Virgin Mobile USA has decided to locate its permanent US headquarters at One Kansas City Place in downtown Kansas City, company officials say. The firm had chosen last year to relocate from Warren, NJ, to this Midwestern downtown and currently operates from a temporary office in One Kansas City Place. It just began the renovation of nearly 11,000 square feet of vacant space on a separate floor, and plans to hire up to 100 people.

The decisions give yet another boost to the high-tech reputation of both the city and its downtown, which has seen a lot of activity in recent years. Google, for example, chose in 2011 to roll out its new high-speed fiber in the metro area. And in response to the downtown's popularity among younger workers, residential developers have started constructing new multifamily communities in or near the CBD, sometimes on once-unused land along the riverfront.

“In addition to the dense cluster of inventive companies located downtown, the cost of commercial real estate and salaries are more attractive in Kansas City relative to both coasts, especially in NJ and CA where our former offices were based,” says Dow Draper, chief executive officer of Virgin Mobile. “Plus, Kansas City is home to a high-end talent pool and ranked high on national lists for places to live and work, which helps attract, hire and retain people that can put purpose and passion into working at Virgin.”

After a local and national search for talent that began last July, Virgin Mobile now employs 27 full-time employees in a variety of marketing, technology, operations, leadership and customer service roles. The company plans to hire 33 more people in the first half of 2017, which will bring its headcount to 60 people by the time it opens the new office in the summer.

To help Kansas City land the Virgin Mobile office, the state agreed to grant up to $1.87 million in incentives through its Missouri Works program if the company creates 84 new jobs over the next five years.

“Virgin Mobile seriously considered several major metro areas for its headquarters, but we made the case through a strong entrepreneurial and tech community along with vibrant livability, proving that Kansas City was the best choice,” says Tim Cowden, president and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Area Development Council.

Virgin Mobile chose Kansas City-based architecture and design firm GastingerWalker& to design the now vacant upper floor.

“The office design reflects the culture of Virgin and represents the type of employees we plan to hire,” says Draper. “So, you'll see pops of the Virgin red-hot color accented throughout what we call a modern Pacific Northwest design with wood panels and furnishings. It will also feature décor that gives a nod to Virgin's other companies.”

Virgin Mobile chose Kansas City-based architecture and design firm GastingerWalker& to design the now vacant upper floor.

Instant Insights /

Mobile Tech Firm Chooses Permanent Home in KC

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