Corbion tastes success with new Lenexa North American headquarters and innovation lab

Food ingredient research company Corbion has opened its new 58,000-square foot North American headquarters and advanced laboratory facility at 8250 Flint St. in Lenexa. The new $13 million facility consolidates the company's 200 employees into one regional operation.

Developed by Block Real Estate Services (BRES), the building is less than a mile from Corbion's longtime location at 79th and Quivira and marks the completion of Pine Ridge West Business Park, a flagship development for BRES.

"BRES has been excited to assist Corbion with the development of a new high-end facility in Pine Ridge Business Park,” said Kenneth G. Block, managing principal at BRES. “As a fellow industry leader, Corbion’s commitment to quality and innovation matches BRES’s commitment, which is visible in Corbion’s new facility and the nearby BRES apartment development of WaterSide Residences on Quivira.”

The facility includes a state-of-the-art bakery and demonstration kitchen, as well as meat research and application labs. Designed by Finkle + Williams, the building reflects the company's focus on sustainability through local sourcing, clean energy, centralized waste management, composting and recycling programs, according to a release.

The new headquarters and lab will inform the Dutch company's approach to helping create a safe and sustainable global food supply. Corbion has had a presence in the KC region for almost a century.

“We constantly encourage our employees and our customers to ‘Keep Creating,’ because the world urgently needs better solutions to the challenges we face,” said Andy Muller, Executive Vice President at Corbion. “The innovations we help create make a difference in the lives of people everywhere – people just like us. We try to merge our areas of scientific expertise with what we know and care about as consumers so we can develop solutions that make a meaningful impact for everyone, including ourselves and our families.”

Local vendors were chosen for the facility, including food services by Westport Flea Market and beverages by Messenger Coffee and Tea Market.

Block added that Corbion was a good partner for BRES because the companies are aligned both professionally and philanthropically.

“Corbion’s involvement in the community and focus on giving back align with BRES’s commitment to philanthropy which has made this an ideal partnership,” Block said.

Corbion employs a total of 350 in the region.

CBRE predicts KC real estate to thrive in 2016

It’s a good year to be in Kansas City. With each sector making impressive moves in 2015, CBRE’s Kansas City office is predicting just as strong of a 2016, with a few nuances. Here’s a look at the real estate firm’s predictions for the coming year.

OFFICE

Kansas City’s top submarkets are hurting for more large blocks of Class A space, as evidenced by the climbing office occupancy rates. The lack of speculative office space has been a significant factor in lowering vacancy rates, the report notes, especially in South Johnson County and at the Country Club Plaza. While a handful of multitenant construction projects are on the horizon in 2016, none are truly speculative, as they will require significant preleasing prior to the start of construction.

This year, CBRE predicts asking lease rates will remain steady or see modest growth. Projects on the way include the 193,732-square-foot 46 Penn Centre on the Plaza, and the 142,717-square-foot historical conversion of Corrigan Station. The Dairy Farmers of America also have a new 100,000-square-foot headquarters building underway in Kansas City, Kan.

The border war over incentives will continue to play a significant role in luring companies back and forth across the state line, unless a bill that prohibits the use of state incentives to attract Kansas City area companies is successfully passed through the Kansas Legislature. However, some community leaders believe that restricting incentives will dampen Kansas City’s competitive edge over other parts of the country, and could lead major area employers to leave Kansas City altogether.