EPA to Build $20 Mil Downtown Kansas City Lab

KANSAS CITY, KS-A $20 million laboratory is being built for the Environmental Protection Agency on the northwest corner of Third Street and Minnesota Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kan.

Called the EPA Science and Technology Building, the 70,000 square foot lab and office space will be a one-story glass and brick structure, with a 100 slot parking lot. The EPA will lease the building for 20 years. The new building will be located about two blocks from the 200,000 square foot EPA Regional Building.

Kansas EPA Laboratory LLC, led by real estate executives Rick Baier and Dan Carr, is overseeing construction of the facility. Baier is managing director for CB Richard Ellis. Carr is a vice president.

CB Richard Ellis will manage the building. Construction will begin in February and take approximately 14 months to complete. Koll Construction LP will serve as the construction company. Hoefer Wysocki Architects will provide designs, along with Clark Enersen Partners engineers.

First year rent is to be about $52.50 per square foot, with a rent increase scheduled for every five years.“It is expensive space for sure,” Carr said. “But that tends to be the nature of things when you are building a laboratory.”