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A look inside EiKO Global Headquarters’ new digs

Step inside EiKO Global Headquarters’ recently renovated space, and you’ll find yourself in a modern, light-filled haven. It’s an aesthetic that makes perfect sense—after all, the Shawnee-based lighting manufacturer is in the business of illumination with an emphasis on green, eco-friendly products.

Kisha Nickell, IIDA, is a lead interior designer for davidson architecture & engineering, which completed the EiKO renovation. Firm owner John Davidson originally designed EiKO’s office building in the mid-90s, and an addition was completed in 2000.

Yet after EiKO changed its logo and became a certified green company, it was clear that the outdated space was in dire need of a makeover. And as with most renovation projects, an initial intention to start small quickly grew to a full-fledged transformation.

“The plan was to renovate an upstairs conference room to better showcase different types of lighting,” Nickell says. “The project soon expanded into the whole two-story facility.”

Drab walls were cut out to create windows, infusing the now-airy space with ample natural light. Stairs shed their carpeted covers in favor of hardwood wraps accentuated by glass railings and an illuminated LED handrail. Show-stopping light fixtures punctuate the space with a blend of drama, style and functionality.

“I worked closely with Bruce Yarnell [of Yarnell Associates] so that every fixture in the space is a custom fixture,” Nickell says. “We used lots of LED fixtures, too, in order to make the space more efficient and showcase many of EiKO’s products.”

Local artist Dierk Van Keppel of Rock Cottage Glasswork completed a custom chandelier that serves as a dramatic addition to the building’s stairway. By incorporating several lighting pieces, the new space not only reflects the company’s industry, but also serves as a state-of-the-art showroom.

“The renovation was fueled by a need for EiKO to refresh its image and create a place to which they can bring clients and showcase their products,” Nickell says.

The renovation was completed in late October 2011 and took about a year. Nickell says the full scope of the transformation is hard to grasp.

“I wish everyone could see before and after pictures of the offices,” she says. “It’s a completely different space now that went from gray and outdated to new and chic and modern. It doesn’t even look like the same place, and the EiKO team loves it.”

Images via davidson architecture & engineering

Michael Roane brings extensive HR experience to new position at JE Dunn

Michael Roane. Image via JE Dunn Construction

Michael Roane has only been with JE Dunn Construction for just over two months, but it took him an even shorter amount of time to realize he’d made a smart career move.

“It took me about a half-day to realize that I made the right choice,” Roane says.

Roane is the new Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for the Kansas City-based construction company. He brings a wealth of senior-level human resources experience to the table, most recently as Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Spartech Corporation.

Although no two days are alike, Roane says his main responsibilities include succession planning, business development, the employment process, company benefits—“everything under the HR umbrella,” Roane says.

His number one priority? “Bringing talented people to JE Dunn so that we can continue to grow and prosper, not just in Kansas City but nationwide, too,” he says. “Our markets are starting to turn around, and we want to gear up our operations staff so that when things really turn around, we’re ready to go.”

And despite having worked in just about every facet of HR, Roane says his new position with JE Dunn still presents some intriguing challenges.

“I’ve never worked in the construction industry,” he says. “This is also the first privately-owned company for which I’ve worked. I’m looking forward to really understanding the industry.”

The Syracuse, N.Y. native is in the process of relocating to Kansas City from St. Louis with his wife. Aside from making a home in a new community, Roane says he’s eager to make a lasting contribution to JE Dunn.

“I want to do what I can to contribute to JE Dunn’s future growth,” he says. “They have a wonderful reputation here in Kansas City, and I want to continue to build on that foundation.”

 ~Alberici acquires CAS Construction~

St. Louis based-Alberici , the second largest general contractor in St. Louis, has acquired CAS Construction, LLC; a Topeka-based firm that concentrates in the building of water treatment plants using the design-build method.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

CAS has completed projects in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Iowa.

Alberici has also made significant contributions to the construction of water treatment facilities all over North America.

According to Mike Burke, executive vice president of Alberici, the move will help bolster Alberici’s presence in the market.

Mike Burke, executive vice president of Alberici

“The acquisition of CAS provides Alberici with additional design-build capabilities and the ability to reach new customers and markets,” Burke said.

The Platte West Water Plant is just one example of Alberici's projects.

The two construction moguls first began working together three years ago on project commissioned by the City of Wichita, Kansas. That $73-million project, completed last year, recently won a Design-Build Institute of America – Mid America Region award and an Associated General Contractors of Kansas award in the Design Build category.

Mike Hafling, president of CAS, and other senior managers will remain with the company, which has been renamed CAS Constructors LLC.

Earlier this month, Alberici formed a partnership with MFC Industrial Ltd. of Canada to buy the Pea Ridge iron ore mine near Sullivan, Mo.

Alberici, led by CEO Greg Kozicz, had revenue of $1.01 billion in 2011.

Greg Kozicz, chief executive officer of Alberici

~St. Louis CVC proposes big changes for the Jones Dome~

Kitty Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention and Visitor’s Commission, unveiled a $124 million dollar plan today involving the upgrade of the home of the St. Louis Rams.

Kitty Ratcliffe, president of the St. Louis Convention & Visitor's Commission

The concept is to make the Edward Jones Dome a top-tier facility in order to meet a clause from the original St. Louis Ram’s 1995 contract.

The plan calls for the addition of 1,500 club seats and an expanded club lounge area. Additionally, North Broadway would be closed on game days between Cole and Seventh Streets in order for the creation of a traffic free entertainment area.

An arial view of the St. Louis Rams Edward Jones Dome

The most significant change calls for a 20,000 square foot lounge across Broadway in Baer Plaza with a sky dome connecting the two structures. New scoreboard measuring 96 x 27 feet would also be added. Steel panels would be removed and replaced with glass to add a natural lighting effect.

In this plan, the concession areas also get an upgrade. General improvements will be added to give the Dome a more modern feel.

The Rams have a 30 day window to accept or reject the proposal. If the Rams decide not to go with the CVC’s plan, the team has another 60 days to come up with their own proposal that would then be subject to approval by the CVC. If both sides fail to agree, the plan will go into arbitration.

If no agreement can be reached to make the Dome a top-tier facility, the Rams can exercise their option to be excused from their lease following the 2014 season.

~ARCO Employees have a new place to call home~

ARCO Construction Company employees are moving into their new home. The eighth largest general contractor in St. Louis has recently moved their headquarters to a newly constructed building in Rock Hill. According to Jeff Cook, Arco’s president and CEO, the move is a “game changer.”

Jeff Cook, president of ARCO construction

Arco saw revenues in excess of $217 million last year. Cook plans to see that number increase in 2012.

“Decision-makers appear to be making decisions to deploy capital and reinvest into their businesses,” he said. “We are cautiously optimistic, anticipating significant revenue growth in 2012 from the pent-up demand of the last two-plus years.”

According to Cook, Arco has experienced significant activity across the geographic board, spanning various markets.

Colliers forecast event features CRE trends, KC’s entrepreneurial outlook

The beginning of a new year is always ripe with predictions for the coming months, and the recent Colliers 2012 Commercial Real Estate Forecast event proved no exception.

During a breakfast held at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Kansas City, hundreds of industry professionals gathered to hear what’s ahead for commercial real estate in 2012.

KC Conway addresses the crowd.

KC Conway, Executive Managing Director, Real Estate Analytics at Colliers, kicked off the event with a forecast and analysis. During his presentation, Conway said he sees “the return of intellectual property manufacturing in the U.S. as a result of our patent protection, currency and quality control in infrastructure.”

In fact, manufacturing proved to be a recurring theme during Conway’s presentation. He said that Kansas City is well positioned in the nation’s Heartland to capitalize on manufacturing growth, which, in addition to warehouse/industrial, will be the two growth sectors for 2012.

“We still have a long road to recovery on retail and housing,” he said. Yet positive indications of growth are visible, including the National Restaurant Performance Index, one of Conway’s preferred sources of information. Since people don’t go out to eat unless they can afford the expense, this metric depicts an accurate picture of the larger economic landscape. And recent data from the NRPI shows the nation is moving into recovery.

The Colliers forecast event featured a panel discussion with Unified Government Mayor Joe Reardon (left), Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Heeter.

After Conway’s presentation, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jim Heeter led a panel discussion with Kansas City Mayor Sly James and Unified Government Mayor Joe Reardon.

The two mayors spent much of the time talking about their shared vision to elevate Kansas City to the greatest entrepreneurial city in the nation, part of the Chamber’s Big 5 Ideas. It’s a quest that won’t just help fuel Kansas City growth and economic development, but will also have an impact on the surrounding area.

“We want to raise the stature of the region and help people understand the rich diversity and complexity of our area,” Reardon said.

The teamwork demonstrated by both mayors has created “an extraordinary example for bistate collaboration,” Heeter said.

And it’s a message that resonated throughout the audience as commercial real estate continues to be one of the prominent industries in the Border War, or the ongoing competition between Missouri and Kansas for projects, development and deals.

“Part of being a city isn’t watching and standing by as part of the area goes down in flames,” said James, whose comments were greeted by a vigorous round of applause. “We have, for too long, thought of the different lines that divide us. We need to be focused on our region’s economy.”

Added Reardon, “We can’t get to where we need to go without working together. We need to change what we reward and celebrate.”

Lockton extends lease, expands square footage at Plaza office

Lockton just renewed its lease for 171,000 square feet at Valencia Place Office Tower on the Country Club Plaza. The company also expanded the lease by 10,000 square feet. Lockton is committed to the office space through February 2030. No exterior changes to the building are expected as a result of the extended lease, but a $3.5 million interior renovation is planned.

The deal is a significant boon for the local office market and also a triumph for Highwoods Properties, which manages the Plaza.

“Congratulations to our Kansas City team for their hard work in fortifying and expanding our relationship with Lockton,” said Ed Fritsch, president and CEO of Highwoods, in a release.

Mark Henderson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Lockton’s Kansas City Property Casualty operations, said the lease extension demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to Kansas City.

“This remarkable community has provided Lockton with a solid foundation for more than 45 years, and we look forward to continuing our growth and watching Kansas City grow from right here on the Plaza,” Henderson said in a release.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James called Lockton a “perfect example of a Kansas City success story” and “a pillar of our claim to be the city of entrepreneurs.” James thanked Highwoods Properties for their support in helping to keep Lockton in Kansas City.

Lockton was founded in Kansas City in 1966 and has grown to be the largest privately held insurance broker in the world and ninth largest overall. Lockton employs more than 4,000 people, nearly 1,000 of whom work in Kansas City, and works with more than 15,000 clients around the world.

Downtown streetcar project design approved by City Council

A proposed downtown streetcar project moves one step forward.

The proposed downtown Kansas City streetcar project moved one step forward after the City Council approved a design contract worth nearly $700,000 that provides for additional design work and conceptual engineering on a proposed two-mile streetcar route.

Although the plan is slowly moving forward, the streetcar faces at least one major hurdle: a possible special election in which a group of voters (mostly located in downtown Kansas City) would consider the creation of a transportation development district. As part of the district, a one percent sales tax increase and property tax assessments would go into effect to help provide funding for the project, which is estimated to cost $100 million as outlined in the project proposal.

A date for the election has not been set, although the Kansas City Council has officially supported the election. Voters could head to the polls as early as April to help decide the fate of the streetcar, which is praised by city officials as a tool to help increase economic development and growth within the city’s urban core.

~The Mercantile Exchange District gets all charged up~

A new e-car charging station comes to downtown St. Louis

If you are among the growing number of St. Louisans who owns an electronic car, or if you’re thinking about purchasing an e-car but worry about the availability factor of charging such a device, worry no more.

Developer and president of Spinnaker St. Louis, Amos Harris, has installed the area’s first e-car charging station. Located in the heart of the Mercantile Exchange district, at the corner of Seventh and Lucas and adjacent to the Laurel Apartments (also owned by Harris), the station will be open to the public and offer 24/7 driver support.

Amos Harris, president of Spinnaker St. Louis and the Mercantile Exchange district developer

The Laurel will not profit from the new fixture, but Harris points out that it is a valuable amenity for area residents.

Known as the Coulomb ChargePoint Network EV, was installed by Microgrid Energy at a cost of $14,000. This cost included a 30 percent federal tax credit.

Mercantile Exchange will also be the new home to a Nissan LEAF Vehicle, provided by St. Louis-based WeCar, a green arm of Enterprise Holdings. The Nissan LEAF will rent for $8 an hour, has a charge life of 80 to 100 miles and will cost $3 to fully charge.

The Nissan LEAF

According to a statement, Harris contends that, “Every major auto manufacturer is preparing to offer an [e-car]… So building an infrastructure to support environmentally friendly vehicles is critical.”

The Mercantile Exchange development is a $250 million plan that includes luxury apartments at the Laurel, a 23,000 square foot National Blues Museum, a $3 million movie theater and will be the home of future tenants, Robust Wine Bar and Pi Pizzeria.

~Saint Louis University Law School makes a move~

The St. Louis University School of Law is the latest in a list of St. Louis-based entities that are choosing to grace the downtown landscape.

The school will move from its current campus, located on Grand Avenue, to the 11-story building formerly occupied by AT&T. It is ideally situated next to the Civil Courts Building, across the street from St. Louis City Hall and within walking distance to the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse.

The former AT&T building is the future home of the SLU Law School.

The high rise was donated by Joe and Loretta Scott. Joe Scott is the owner and founder of Scott Properties, whose portfolio includes over 2 million square feet of medical, office warehouse and retail space.

According to Annette Clark, Dean of SLU Law School, the off-campus model follows a trend among such prestigious law schools as Georgetown University, Loyola Marymount and Boston College.

“What is so exciting about our new building is that the interior is essentially a blank canvas,” Clark said in an announcement to students. “This will allow us to develop the flexible, multipurpose, technology-centric spaces we need right now to support how legal education is delivered today.”

The target completion date is August 2012, in time for the start of the 2012-2013 academic school year.

The building will be named the Joe and Loretta Scott Law Center. It will house an auditorium and an enclosed parking structure.

~A new Siteman Cancer Center comes to South County~

Construction has begun on the new Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center. The $27.5 million project is a joint venture between Washington University School of Medicine and BJC Healthcare and is located on the southeast corner of Butler Hill Road and I-55 in South County.

A rendering of the newest Siteman Center in St. Louis County.

The 36,674 square foot facility will offer outpatient care and will provide chemotherapy and radiation services along with clinical trials. The one-story, brick veneer structure will contain a covered patient drop-off bay and the property will offer 166 parking spaces.

Construction is anticipated to be complete by early 2013.

Last year, BJC’s reported revenue was $3.6 billion with operating earnings of $200 million.

Photos courtesy of Google Images

Local CRE professionals go head-to-head in CCIM competition

The CCIM 2012 Commercial Real Estate Forecast Competition panel.

The Mission Hills Country Club hosted a packed house for last Friday’s CCIM breakfast, which featured a 2012 Commercial Real Estate Forecast Competition.

CoStar’s John Hitchcock served as the moderator of the lively panel discussion, which pitted some of Kansas City’s best and brightest commercial real estate minds against each other to predict what’s to come in 2012.

Their answers were recorded and will be reviewed at the end of the year to determine the champion in each of three sectors: office, retail and industrial. Next year, the winner will go head-to-head with a new challenger.

CBRE’s David Hinchman and Colliers International’s Ed Elder stepped up first to represent the Industrial sector. Their predictions were fairly even in each category, and were tinged with optimism.

In regard to vacancy trends, Elder said he has a “good feeling that this time next year, vacancy will continue to trend downward.” Added Hinchman when asked about absorption rates, “Ed and I believe strongly in what’s happening in this marketplace.”

Hinchman added that he sees a trend in which the market will solidify. He also expects that the asking lease rate will be driven up as a result of more construction.

Attendees at CCIM's January breakfast.

Jeff Berg of Lane4 and Audrey Navarro of Kessinger Hunter faced off in the retail category. They offered predictions about both community centers and power centers, including expected vacancy, absorption rates and leases. Neither Berg nor Navarro expects to see a large amount of new product.

“What we’re seeing is no new construction and no product added,” Berg said. “As a result, vacancies will come down, but it’s a matter of how much.”

Navarro also indicated an interesting prediction for the power center category. She expects to see more absorption because “more tenants can now afford power center rates.”

To make the competition a little more interesting, Hitchcock put both panelists on the spot in regard to a specific retailer. His question? “How many Menard’s locations will go vertical in 2012?” For the record, Berg predicts 2 and Navarro says 4.

CBRE’s Bob Fagan and Kessinger Hunter’s Greg Swetnam represented the third and final category, office. Although the two differed widely on some predictions, such as net absorption in class A and B office space, they were united in other theories and agreed that the local office market won’t see much new product in 2012.

“My assessment is that the market is splintered,” Swetnam said. “It will be flat in 2012 because there’s little to no job growth. Lots of deals are being made, but it’s forward and backward, and the deals are much more elongated now.”

Added Fagan, “A lack of new product will see more absorption. Ninety-five percent of the market is below 25,000 square feet, and 85 percent of deals are under 10,000 square feet. Unless we get more job growth, we won’t see significant jumps for the period between 2012 and 2015.”

Cosby Hotel ownership pursues redevelopment plan

Downtown Kansas City’s historic Cosby Hotel could get a much-needed makeover, when just months ago the property was scheduled for demolition.

Jason Swords of Sunflower Development Group will present a redevelopment plan during today’s meeting of the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, a development agency that falls under the umbrella of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City.

Sunflower Development Group bought the Cosby Hotel property from Rick Powell several months ago, and has plans to develop the building into an office and retail project that could include more than 30 office spaces available for lease.

The Cosby Hotel has been completely empty since the mid-90s and is in need of extensive renovation to make the building habitable.

Gina Anderson joins CBRE

Gina Anderson

Gina Anderson, a veteran commercial real estate professional, has joined CBRE Kansas City’s Capital Markets group as vice president. According to the company, Anderson is actively engaged in the Kansas City market, having participated in over $44 million worth of closed transactions in 2011.

“Gina’s track record, knowledge of the market and work ethic, coupled with the CBRE Investment Platform, will make her a strong force in this market,” said Mike Klamm, Managing Director for CBRE, Kansas City. “Gina’s current connections and ability to team with some of the top capital market professionals in the nation will elevate her game.”

This year markets Anderson’s 25th year in the commercial real estate industry. In the past, she’s worked with leading institutional real estate owners like Aetna and Travelers, and on iconic properties including Corporate Woods and the Country Club Plaza. Anderson also serves on the local Board of Goodwill Industries.

Services, reach among the secrets to Cassidy Turley’s success

Michael T. Mayer, SIOR

The past few years have been nothing short of tumultuous for the commercial real estate industry. Yet Cassidy Turley has not only managed to weather the storm, but has expanded its services outside of North America and achieved other benchmarks that are part of a larger growth pattern.

The secret? A number of factors are at play, but two of the biggest keys to Cassidy Turley’s success are its employees and its services. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that some of the most basic facts about the company remain relatively unknown in Kansas City, creating what some might call an element of surprise when the true reach and abilities of the company are revealed.

“Not many people realize how well we’re doing from a national perspective,” says Michael T. Mayer, SIOR, who recently became Managing Director of Cassidy Turley’s Kansas City office. “For example, we employ more than 3,400 people, 900 of which are brokers.”

Other stats? Cassidy Turley has more than 455 million square feet of property under management, 8.5 million of which is in Kansas City, making Cassidy Turley the fourth largest brokerage firm overall in Kansas City, and the second largest third party provider.

“We’re not number one on each list, but grouped together, we’re toward the top of each category—and that’s a powerful combination,” Mayer says.

When other companies have struggled to gain footing in a rocky economic landscape, Cassidy Turley has propelled past the competition in large part because of the company’s integrated services package that includes market research, project management, financing, site selection and investment sales, among others.

“What people focus on is the transactions, but there’s a whole integrated approach that people may not realize,” Mayer says, citing a long client list that includes H&R Block, HCA, the Kauffman Foundation, Crown Center and Children’s Mercy Hospital, to name a few.

Cassidy Turley's U.S. client locations.

This diversification of services has allowed Cassidy Turley to grow, and even thrive, in the last two years. Mayer credits the property management department for being an especially important part of the equation.

“The brokerage and transaction guys tend to get all of the headlines,” he says. “Property managers are the unsung heroes. They’re who get us through the recession because property management revenues are redundant and steady. Brokerage revenues fluctuate. And you don’t tend to hear about this sort of back-end work that’s just as critical to our success.”

From a national perspective, Cassidy Turley remains just as active. The firm operates more than 60 offices around the country, not only securing deals but providing services for an impressive client roster that includes Edward Jones, Weight Watchers, Red Mango, Hanes and Proctor & Gamble.

The company’s integrated services and national resources are keys to success, but the firm would be nothing without its employees. In the Kansas City office, for example, Mayer encourages an entrepreneurial culture in which brokers can thrive. There’s no doubt that the Cassidy Turley team is hard working, yet they’re not afraid to loosen up, either.

“We’ve got depth but it’s still fun and a great place to work,” Mayer says. “We’re not too corporate. The culture is important not only to each employee, but to our overall success, and that’s why it’s such a big area of emphasis for me. I’ve been producing for 25 years and have been very results-oriented. I want to surround myself with like-minded people.”

Images via Cassidy Turley

BRES issues 2012 Real Estate Report

Prepare for what lies ahead in the Kansas City real estate market with Block Real Estate Services, LLC’s newly released publication, “The Real Estate Report for Metropolitan Kansas City 2012.”

This comprehensive report provides an overview of pertinent factors in 2011 that will influence what’s to come in 2012. The report also presents an in-depth look of various markets, including office, industrial and retail, as well as downtown development and the multi-family market, to help readers get a complete and comprehensive grasp of what’s happening in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

“The research and analysis contained in our 2012 commercial real estate market update will provide you the knowledge and the confidence to leverage the opportunities that will emerge in the months ahead,” says Paige Salveter, director of marketing and communications for BRES. “We offer you this report to assist you in your preparation for your long-range occupancy and investment strategies. Don’t allow your plans to be made in a vacuum.”

Village At Mission Farms, one of several multifamily projects in progress. Image via BRES.

Continued recovery is expected to move forward at a slow yet steady pace. And although governmental and other factors continue to present challenges in terms of both real estate and unemployment, a building momentum throughout the Kansas City area has resulted in a prediction of continued—and even increased—development that will likely have a ripple effect in regard to other economic factors.

“Kansas City will see many more exciting development projects planned or already under construction over the next 24 months, and these new projects will bring upwards of $1.6 billion of additional residential, commercial and cultural construction to the area,” according to the report. “As the economy improves, expect many more exciting projects to be announced, as Kansas City is quickly becoming a growing, vibrant epicenter of the community.”

To download a copy of the full report, click here.

~Everything old is new again, including information delivery~

A downtown site, rich in St. Louis history, takes on a new life. In 1917, the historic building located at 1111 Olive St. was the original home to the St. Louis Post Dispatch printing press.

Now, nearly 100 years later, the industrial phase has given way to the digital revolution as hard copy print morphs into a continuous swirl of virtual ones and zeros.

It seems only fitting that the building, which once was so integral in delivering tangible information, is now being used to store a bevy of cyber information.

Xiolink, the company who now occupies the former Post building, is a data center and co-location IT service company that has just announced it’s in phase two of a transformation and build-out.

Xiolink's data center buildout is entering phase three.

Xiolink’s chief executive officer, Brad Pittenger, bought the 100,000-square foot structure in 2009 for $2.25 million. During phase one of the building’s redesign, 12,000 square feet of raised floor space was added.

Brad Pittenger, CEO of Xiolink

Phase two included a complete retrofitting to the facility’s infrastructure with new power and cooling components designed to handle the unique demands of data storage.

The third and final phase of the build-out remains in the planning stages, but expects that 25,000 more square feet of raised floor space will be added.

The final product is anticipated to add approximately 15 jobs to the St. Louis economic landscape. As a further boost, Arco Construction, the company charged with the expansion, estimates that that the project has added between 50 and 60 local jobs.

The renovation’s $14 million price tag, has been, funded part by a combination of incentives and tax credits with nearly $850,000 coming from Brownfield Redevelopment incentives. In addition, nealy $2.7 million came from historic tax credits.

~Appistry relocates their HQ from Creve Coeur to downtown, St. Louis~

Appistry Inc., a St. Louis-based cloud computing and software development company, has recently announced the relocation of their Creve Coeur headquarters to The Art of Living Building in downtown St. Louis.

The Art of LIving Building, the new home of St. Louis based Appistry.

According to a prepared statement, “the relocation signifies the growth and momentum achieved by Appistry in 2011 as the company focused new efforts on solving big data challenges in the life sciences by developing high-performance pipeline automation solutions to accelerate next generation sequencing.”

The new downtown location contains 52,000 square feet of contemporary office space, ideal for the companies growth and expansion plans.

In 2011 the company nearly doubled in size to a total of 50 employees.

“In 2012 and beyond, we are committed to harnessing this industry’s growth by developing the most cost-effective, accurate and highest quality solutions for genomic analysis to accelerate a more personalized approach to medicine,” says Kevin Haar, Appistry chief executive officer.

Kevin Haar, Appistry CEO

While declining to disclose revenue, it is clear that the company is on the fast track to growth as it makes it’s mark on the application technology market; particularly in the areas of financial services, life sciences and defense and intelligence.

According to Marcia Mellitz, VP of Program Development at Appistry, “St. Louis is an ideal location for the company given the presence of so many organizations advancing genetics research such as The Genome Institute at Washington University, University of Missouri, Monsanto and the Danforth Center.”

Marcia Mellitz, Appistry VP of Program Development

 ~Get valuable insight on the challenges facing the St. Louis area for 2012 at the State of St. Louis panel discussion~

See what’s in store for the St. Louis area business and real estate landscape with the State of St. Louis 2012.

In a special, one-hour, breakfast meeting a panel of area dignitaries, including St. Louis mayor Francis Slay, County executive Charlie Dooley, St. Charles executive Steve Ehlmann and St. Clair County chairman Mark Kern, will each discuss the states of their regions.

This is a unique opportunity to learn about the most important issues facing our region in the coming year from some of the area’s most influential leaders.

The January 27^th event will be held at the Rensaissance Grand Hotel, located at 815 Olive Blvd., in the Majestic Ballroom, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Registration is required. Ticket prices are $50 per person and $500 per table of ten. For more information, contact Kelly Rowland at 314-421-8307.

~Angela Fonner

Brightergy’s Susan Brown discusses her recent board election and why now is the time for solar

Susan Brown, VP of Business Development at Brightergy

MetroWireMedia recently caught up with Susan Brown, Brightergy’s VP of Business Development, on the heels of her election to the National Solar Energy Industries Association’s Board of Directors. The organization represents some of the largest companies in the world, including SunPower, Suntech, Solar City, 3M, Dow Corning, First Solar, GE Energy and US Bancorp.

Read on for a look at the organization, what she hopes to accomplish while a board member and why there’s never been a better time to consider a solar project.

Solar installation at JE Dunn

MWM: Congratulations on your election! Can you tell us a little about NSEIA?

SB: In the past, it’s been a pay-to-play organization, so you had to pay a lot of money for a board seat. They recently went through a process on how to be a better association, and one recommendation was to have an elected board. They opened up five seats and received 18 nominations. I finished in the top 5 and have now started a two-year term.

NSEIA was established in 1974 and serves as the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. In addition to representing us as a trade group, NSEIA produces the annual Solar Power International tradeshow, which is a big part of the organization.

Paseo Academy of Performing Arts

MWM: What do you hope to accomplish while on the NSEIA board?

SB: I’m very interested in federal and state affairs, and the organization, like any other, focuses on where it feels the biggest opportunities are. I want NSEIA and others to know that there’s a lot of solar activity in Missouri, and we need attention from our national organization. I hope to help give Missouri a lot more credibility and more exposure, and hopefully more resources to continue to advance and promote solar technology.

JE Dunn

MWM: This is undoubtedly an exciting step not just for you, but for Brightergy, too. Is there anything going on at the company right now that you’d like to share, or any projects you want to mention?

SB: The exciting thing for Brightergy is the truly amazing change we’ve seen in the viability of solar for building owners. For MetroWireMedia readers and those who own real estate in Missouri, this is a no-brainer. The price of solar has dropped 40 percent in one year, and we can structure deals where it’s a four-year payback. For leasing, we can lease systems where we own the system and the payments to us are less than what you’d pay for electricity.

I hear people frequently mention that ‘Solar is coming,’ but the truth is it’s here, it’s now, it’s happening. If you’re a building owner and you haven’t investigated solar as a way to reduce your expenses, save money and fix your expenses over a long-term period, what are you waiting for?

This is a change that’s happened in the last six months. We’ve finished projects for companies like JE Dunn, Hallmark, John Knox Village and Briarcliff—all of these are companies that have incorporated solar because it makes sense.

Images via Brightergy

Increased collaboration contributes to Parkville Commercial Underground leases in 2011

As a result of new leases and tenant expansions, a net absorption of 58,615 square feet was leased in 2011 in the Parkville Commercial Underground development, a one million square foot business park located beneath the Park University campus.

PCU is owned by Park University, which retained Hakes Real Estate in August 2010 to market and lease vacant space. Hakes Real Estate continues to fill that roll, joined by Martin Properties as the property manager. This last year saw increased duties for Martin Properties, including tenant relations and management, as well as increased involvement from two Park University departments.

“The leases signed in 2011 are the result of the unique advantages and features of the PCU, coupled with the increased cooperation among the employees of Hakes Real Estate, Martin Properties and the University’s accounting and environmental services departments,” said Roger W. Hershey, Park University’s vice president and general counsel.

PCU offers tenants a number of benefits, including lower rental rates, significantly lower utility costs, a secure environment and a comfortable, constant work climate. Plus, tenants have access to Park University amenities like research tools and dining and catering.

A wide range of building sizes remain for prospective tenants, or a tenant can build a facility in order to meet specific needs. PCU’s developed space suits a range of applications, including warehouse and distribution, light manufacturing and back office operations.

For more information about PCU, call Brad Hakes or Tim Basler at 816-221-0011.

Images via Park University

Henderson Engineers relocates within Lenexa

As a result of a multi-million dollar agreement, Henderson Engineers Inc. announced that it’s moving and expanding its national headquarters to a newer, 84,500-square-foot space in Lenexa’s Pine Ridge Business Park.

The company was already located in Lenexa, but opted to move to the new space after “a lengthy research period that included exploring different leasing and ownership options,” according to Block Real Estate Services, LLC.

“Being an employee focused organization, our internal research indicated an overall preference to remain in the same general area,” said Duane Henderson, President and CEO of Henderson Engineers.  “Lenexa has been a great address for us over the last 20 years and this will be the sixth building we have occupied within the city.”

Henderson Engineers will relocate as part of a phased move that begins next month, with a complete occupation scheduled for summer 2012. The new space will accommodate the company’s current expansion needs, and also provide additional space for future growth. Tenant finish construction will begin this month, and the project will be designed, constructed and certified to meet LEED ratings for Commercial Interiors, a measurement system that Block Real Estate Services says provides “the green benchmark for the tenant improvement market.”

Kenneth G. Block, Gene Elsas and Brian Bock of Block Real Estate Services, LLC, represented Pine Ridge Business Park in the transaction. Bryan Johnson of Colliers served as a consultant to Henderson Engineers throughout the relocation process.

The transaction provided another benchmark in a long-term relationship between BRES and Henderson Engineers.

“We’ve had the pleasure of working with Henderson Engineers for nearly 20 years in Pine Ridge Business Park and have found them to be not only an excellent tenant, but also a fine engineering firm that we have used extensively on our development and redevelopment projects,” said managing principal Kenneth G. Block of Block Real Estate Services and managing member of Pine Ridge.

Aratana Therapeutics expands to East Coast, appoints executive director of business development

Michele Gallucci. Photo via Aratana Therapeutics

Kansas City, Kan.-based Aratana Therapeutics has established a New York City office and appointed Michele A. Gallucci, MBA, as the company’s executive director of business development.

The New York office, based in midtown Manhattan, will serve as Aratana’s base of East Coast operations. The animal health company develops innovative medicines for companion animals.

“These are two important strategic moves,” said CEO Dr. Linda Rhodes. “Establishing a New York office and hiring a business development professional of Michele Gallucci’s caliber demonstrate the continuing growth of Aratana Therapeutics and illustrate the robust nature of our business model. Having an office convenient to the New York financial and pharmaceutical industries gives us additional access to key resources that can play significant roles in helping Aratana fulfill our promise to take human health pharmaceuticals and develop them into innovative medicines for companion animals.”

Gallucci holds a BA in Economics from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA in Finance and Health Care Management from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. She’ll be based in the New York office.

Council committee scheduled to decide outcome on possible Lyric Theater incentives

During today’s meeting, the Kansas City Planning, Zoning and Economic Development committee will decide whether or not to award tax increment financing incentives in order to help a redevelopment plan for the Lyric Theater move forward.

Now that the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts has opened, the historic landmark is unused. In December, DST Realty received a nod from the Tax Increment Financing Commission of Kansas City on a proposal to turn the building into an FAA training facility.

Kansas City is one of six cities competing for the project. The development team says changes to the existing TIF plan would help finance the conversion project, which has an estimated cost of $27.7 million. If the TIF plan is approved, the development team could use that as an additional incentive to help secure the project, which could result in about 100 new jobs for the city.

DST Realty has owned the Lyric Theater since 2007, when it purchased the facility from the Lyric Opera for a little more than $2 million.

Block & Company, Inc., Realtors announces Sam’s Club as newest Plaza at the Speedway tenant

David M. Block of Block & Company, Inc., Realtors recently announced that Sam’s Club will become the newest anchor tenant at the Plaza at the Speedway development. According to Block, Sam’s Club recently closed on a purchase of 16.8 acres of land that will join the 850,000-square-foot retail power shopping center.

Sam’s Club is expected to break ground in February, with a tentative opening planned for fall 2012.

Block and Becky Goodman, both of Block & Company, Inc., Realtors represented the seller, Plaza Speedway LLC. Bob Johnson of RH Johnson represented the buyer.

Sam’s Club joins a number of retailers and restaurants at Plaza at the Speedway, including Walmart Supercenter, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Jack in the Box, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Logan’s Roadhouse and Chick-fil-A, among others.

Located in western Wyandotte County, Plaza at the Speedway offers a prime retail and restaurant location that’s near a number of tourism destinations, including Livestrong Sporting Park, Schlitterbahn Vacation Village, Legends Outlets Kansas City, CommunityAmerica Ballpark, Kansas Speedway, The Great Wolf Lodge and the soon-to-open Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.

As development at Plaza at the Speedway continues, anchor, junior anchor, pad sites and small shop space are still available. Block and Goodman are in the midst of negotiations with several junior box and restaurant tenants.

Matt Eckert joins CBRE Kansas City

Matt Eckert

This week, CBRE announced that Matt Eckert joined the company’s office leasing and sales group as vice president.

Eckert is a 10-year commercial real estate industry veteran who is actively engaged with office tenants seeking commercial real estate solutions in the Kansas City area.

“Matt is a great addition to our existing team of office brokers and will accelerate our growth in the tenant representation practice,” said Mike Klamm, managing director for CBRE, Kansas City. “Matt’s work ethic and professionalism fit very well with our RISE values.”

Eckert has worked with a number of large tenants throughout the region, including the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, ITT Technical Institute and Birch Communications. Eckert’s move to CBRE will allow him to expand on his existing experience.

“I was looking for a platform that provided the tools to help me take my business to the next level and found that with CBRE,” Eckert said.

Eckert is a graduate of Kansas State University and received his MBA in Real Estate from Texas Christian University.

Jon England joins Lee & Associates’ Kansas City office

Jon England

Real estate investment expert Jon England has joined Lee & Associates’ Kansas City office as a principal.

England started his career in 2001 with Kansas City-based Meyer Companies Inc., and was a top producer in the Capital Markets Division of Cassidy Turley before joining Lee & Associates.

England’s experience is varied and includes knowledge of site acquisition, ground up development, construction, lease up and the sale of office, retail and industrial projects.

“We couldn’t be more excited about Jon’s addition to our team,” said Nathan Anderson, managing principal of Lee Kansas City. “His expertise in investment sales, self storage, mobile home parks and strategic counseling will add a tremendous component to client services.”

England said he’s excited about the opportunity to further develop his career with Lee & Associates.

“The ability to help grow our Kansas City presence, but also to access Lee’s national brokerage community is not only exciting but will allow me to utilize my experience on a larger stage.”

England is a member of SEC and CCIM and serves as a board member for CCIM’s Kansas City chapter. He’s a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

MIQ Logistics continues growth with new logistics center

MIQ Logistics' office in Gardena, Calif.

Overland Park-based MIQ Logistics continues its impressive growth pattern with the opening of the company’s newest logistics center, located in Tannersville, Penn. This marks MIQ Logistics’ eighth logistics center in 12 months.

Located on 70 acres of land near Interstate 80, the new logistics center is expected to give MIQ Logistics increased access to the East Coast, including New York and New Jersey. The facility will give MIQ Logistics more space for distribution and value-added services.

MIQ Logistics, formerly part of YRC Worldwide, became a separate company after a strategic purchase by private equity firm Austin Ventures in 2010. MIQ Logistics has since opened centers in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Vancouver, Washington, D.C. and Weehawken, N.J. The company has offices in Overland Park, as well as locations throughout North America, Asia, Europe and South America.

“MIQ Logistics enables companies to improve their transportation network and overall supply chain efficiency by offering flexible logistics solutions supported by Web-native technology and global logistics management capabilities,” according to the company.