Garmin International Inc., U.S. Engineering, and Veterinary and Biomedical Research Center will be lead tenants in the first building in the new K-State Office Park. This innovative four-phase project will help lead the development of Kansas State University’s north campus corridor and fuel economic growth and development of Manhattan and the region.
The Kansas State University Foundation is developing the K-State Office Park, a 14-acre tract of land at the corner of Kimball and Denison avenues, which is adjacent to the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility site and the Grain Science and Industry Complex. The first building, which will be 60,000 square feet, is set to open Oct. 12. Ultimately, four office buildings will add 220,000 square feet of space for academic and commercial enterprises. Only 6,500 square feet of space is still available for lease in the first building, and preleasing for the second 60,000 square-foot building has begun.
“We are excited to be among the first corporations to have a presence in the K-State Office Park,” said Tyler Nottberg, chairman and CEO of U.S. Engineering. “Having a presence in the Manhattan area allows us to partner with K-State on new technologies and approaches, while remaining a driving force within the communities and an integral part in building up the Midwestern skyline.”
Bob Billings, director of aviation software at Garmin, said proximity to Kansas State University student talent attracted the company to the university campus in Manhattan five years ago and he looked forward to expanding Garmin’s presence closer to the students with its location in the K-State Office Park.
“Our presence in the K-State Office Park allows us to tap into the incredibly talented pool of students at Kansas State University,” Billings said. “We recruit student interns in the areas of computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering who will use this new space to support software development activities for aviation and other business segments at Garmin. This not only helps us develop better products, but also allows us to develop relationships with talented students early in their careers.”
“The ability to leverage the synergies of this national center of excellence for animal health drove our decision to locate our new headquarters in the K-State Office Park,” said Kelly Lechtenberg, CEO and chairman of Veterinary and Biomedical Research Center. “We look forward to opening our doors in Manhattan and to the incredible collaborative opportunities the location will provide.”
Rand Berney, retired senior vice president of corporate shared services for ConocoPhillips and vice chairman of the KSU Foundation board of directors, said the office park would create opportunities for corporate partners and the university.
“The K-State Office Park offers a prime location for corporate partners with a desire to tap in to the opportunities available on the Manhattan campus,” Berney said. “Positioned in close proximity to existing cutting-edge research facilities and the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, corporate partners will have the chance to build professional relationships as well as leverage the strengths of K-State in the areas of student talent and technical innovation.”
Kirk Schulz, Kansas State University president, said that the university, along with the Manhattan community, had taken a comprehensive, collaborative approach to developing this north campus corridor.
“We are excited to welcome our first corporate partners to this dynamic location in Manhattan,” Schulz said. “The K-State Office Park will fuel economic growth and development with a wide area of impact for the region. Ultimately, it will advance us toward our goal of becoming a Top 50 public research university by the year 2025.”
The K-State Office Park project, coupled with last year’s turnkey build to lease of a new 50,000-square-foot building by the KSU Foundation for the Kansas Department of Agriculture in the K-State Research Park, has increased the amount of leased commercial space on the Manhattan campus by 110,000 square feet in the last two years.
