Kansas City Welcomes New Tenant to Former Newspaper Printing Plant
Kansas City is buzzing with excitement as the former Kansas City Star printing plant gears up for a fresh start! Yes, you heard it right—this iconic building is about to transform into a cutting-edge data center, and it’s already found its first tenant. The lucky winner? Nebius, a rising star in the world of artificial intelligence cloud infrastructure.
A Big Move for Nebius
Nebius, which is making waves with its innovative technology, announced that it will be the first to set up shop at this newly retrofitted facility run by Patmos. This Amsterdam-based company isn’t just dipping its toes in the U.S. market; it’s diving in headfirst! With existing operations already up and running in sunny California and bustling Dallas—plus another facility on the horizon in New York—Nebius is clearly on a roll. According to their latest release, the company has a bold goal: to invest over $1 billion in AI infrastructure by the middle of 2025.
Investing in Future Technologies
This ambitious investment reflects Nebius’s strategy to emerge as a top player in the global AI sector, providing essential cloud tools for AI builders. With a dedicated team of 400 engineers and a specialized in-house LLM R&D team, Nebius is positioning itself as a serious contender in the tech field. This is monumental, not just for the company, but also for Kansas City, where new opportunities and jobs could spring from this development.
The Retrofit: A Smart Choice
Now, let’s discuss the building itself. Shaped like a historic stalwart of the Kansas City skyline, the former Kansas City Star building at 1601 McGee St. occupies two complete city blocks. After a significant $1 billion retrofitting effort, it will soon serve as an AI-focused data center capable of supporting cutting-edge technology. No doubt, its existing power infrastructure plays a key role in making this location an ideal fit for such operations.
Patmos, the company behind this retrofit, announced its lease on the building just last week. It’s worth noting that the Kansas City Star sold this property to Ambassador Hospitality LLC for $30.1 million back in 2019. Although the newspaper had initially intended to lease the building for 15 years, they decided to move to a smaller space near Crown Center in 2022.
A Local Business Perspective
The co-owners of Ambassador, Rosana Privitera Biondo and Tony Privitera, shared their enthusiasm over the new lease. “We’re going to continue owning the building, and we think this is a fantastic match,” Tony Privitera explained in an interview. With a “significant” lease term and an option to purchase, it seems that Patmos is committed to making this site a hotbed for technology and innovation for years to come.
A Bright Future Ahead
The community in Kansas City is eager to see how this venture unfolds. As Nebius launches its operations and the data center comes to life, it’s clear that this is more than just a tenant moving in; it represents growth and opportunity for Kansas City. With technology booming and the framework being laid out right in the heart of the city, the tides are turning for a region known for its rich history in media and printing.
Stay tuned as Kansas City embraces this new chapter, with fingers crossed for the exciting developments to come from Nebius and the Patmos team!
