Kansas City’s Former Printing Press to Become Data Center
Exciting news is buzzing around the vibrant streets of Kansas City! A landmark building that was once the home of The Kansas City Star’s printing press is gearing up for a fresh start after sitting empty since 2022. This monumental change comes as a Kansas City-based company, Patmos, has announced its plans to transform the iconic space into a state-of-the-art data center.
Transforming the Skyline
The facility, which spans a whopping 400,000 square feet, is set to become an innovative hub with cutting-edge features. Patmos shared in a recent release that their vision is to create a “hardware agnostic, 100+ megawatt AI innovation facility”, all part of a fantastic billion-dollar retrofit project! This means Kansas City is not only keeping the old structure but is also stepping into the future of technology.
With plans for a partial rollout in the next 18 months, Patmos is wasting no time in bringing this project to life. The decision to convert the former printing press building rather than starting from scratch is smart, as it saves both time and money. Joe Morgan, the Chief Information Officer at Patmos, pointed out that thanks to the building’s existing industrial capabilities, they can get this data center operational “at a fraction of the cost in a fraction of the time.” Talk about efficiency!
Goodbye to Stadium Hopes
However, there’s more to this story—this announcement also quietly pulls the plug on a potential new home for the Kansas City Royals. Up until now, the site at 1601 McGee St. was a favored location for the team to consider for their new downtown ballpark. The Royals had even planned to demolish the old building, but when a crucial sales tax vote aimed at helping fund the stadium construction failed earlier this spring, the tides began to change.
The Royals had high hopes for a new stadium, but with the announcement of Patmos taking over the space, it looks like that dream is now out of reach. The former printing pavilion, which originally opened in 2006, had previously benefited from various tax abatements and was sold by The Star for $30.1 million in 2019.
Finding New Life in a Forgotten Space
Since moving out in 2022, the building stood empty, its once-busy hallways silent. With broken glass panels and plywood covering the windows, it was a somber sight. However, the co-owners of Ambassador Hospitality, Rosana Privitera Biondo and Tony Privitera, were determined to find a suitable tenant for the structure.
Initially envisioning a range of possible uses including office spaces, multifamily housing, retail, or even boutique hotels, the Priviteras are now thrilled to have Patmos on board. Tony Privitera confirmed that the building is still owned by Ambassador but mentioned that Patmos has a “significant” lease term in place and may consider purchasing the building in the future. It’s a win-win scenario, as adding a data center aligns perfectly with the existing power infrastructure of the building.
A Bright Future Ahead
Patmos already boasts operational data centers in Kansas City, Phoenix, and Dallas, and their choice to expand again reflects the central city’s appeal for high-tech ventures. As Rosana remarked, “Ambassador Hospitality is happy that Patmos is our new tenant moving forward, and we’re looking for them to have future success there.”
With all these exciting developments, it seems Kansas City is carving out its future, redefining its landscape with innovation and possibility. The former printing press will not only continue to occupy a unique spot in the city’s skyline but will now serve as a hub for technological prowess. Can’t wait to see what’s next for this remarkable city!
