KBA Signs 10 Years for New Headquarters

Grant Laughlin, who represented the printing press manufacturer in its local search for a new site, tells GlobeSt.com that the just-completed Twinrose Regent II at 2555 Regent Blvd. is just north of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in the 500-acre D/FW International Commerce Park.

"We concentrated on areas that were within a thirty-minute drive of the airport," says Laughlin, president of Dallas-based Laughlin Commercial Realty Group. "We strongly considered Coppell, Grapevine/Southlake and Hillwood's Alliance development."

Laughlin says all the properties were great, but KBA ultimately liked the idea of having its own building, which was just completed by Twinrose Development Co. of Dallas. "International Commerce Park, where this is located, makes a first great impression," Laughlin adds. "There are wonderful corporate neighbors."

The building's quoted lease rate is $4.75-$5.50 per square foot, triple net. The asset is located next to neighboring Twinrose Regent I, a 256,500-square-foot warehouse and distribution center, which was also just completed.

Twinrose Regent II is in shell condition, and KBA will take advantage of an owner finish-out allowance that was part of the deal. KBA will also kick in some of its own modifications.

"These presses are tremendously heavy and require special modifications of the floor," Laughlin explains. "It's not just heavy things in a warehouse, but footprints of presses that are hundreds of thousands of pounds."

KBA North America is a unit of Germany-based printing press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer AG. Executives from the company announced last fall that, following a nation-wide search for a viable spot for a new headquarters, the Dallas-Fort Worth area was selected for its central location.

Laughlin says the relocation makes sense, given the line of business. Decision-makers of printing presses acquisitions require demonstrations and test runs before purchasing. KBA has always had demonstrations on site. But Williston was not convenient for travel.

"It can take a solid day to get into Vermont, unless you happen to be in the northeast," Laughlin comments. "That location is especially hard on the west coast people, and those coming from Mexico."

Furthermore, he goes on to say, KBA is expanding into South America, which requires even more travel time. With Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and its non-stop flights to and from almost everywhere, customers and prospective customers spend less time traveling. "You drive out of the airport and ten minutes later you're at KBA headquarters," Laughlin says. "If necessary, in some instances, you could get back home the same day, rather than spending a whole day just getting there."