WICHITA, Kan. – Cargill gave a first glimpse of the company’s new North America headquarters in the Old Town section of downtown Wichita, Kansas. The $60 million, 188,000-sq.-ft. space will accommodate 950 employees. Construction on the new offices is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2017, with an expected opening in the second quarter of 2018.
Cargill announced in October plans to relocate its protein business to 825 East Douglas Ave. which currently serves as the Wichita Eagle newspaper’s offices and formerly the paper’s printing plant. The office location is in Old Town, an arts and entertainment district that features a collection of converted brick warehouses that date back to the mid-1800s. Restaurants, shops, clubs, museums stores and renovated apartments and condominiums make Old Town a popular destination to work, live and play.
“Our new Wichita protein group headquarters will be world-class and foster the type of collaboration, innovation and diversity of thought that will make us the protein provider of choice for our domestic and international customers while helping them grow their business, and ours,” Brian Sikes, corporate vice president for the Cargill Protein group, said in a statement. “The outstanding support and collaboration we experienced at the city and state level, and our desire to project the best possible image for our business, the community, our customers and employees, compelled us to create a dynamic 21st century office environment reflective of an industry leader that is growing.”
Amenities at the new facility include a client presentation kitchen; a conference center; a center for new product testing; a central café space that opens to an expansive outdoor roof deck overlooking Old Town; an outdoor courtyard to support staff gatherings and informal meetings; locker rooms; mother’s rooms and a large trading floor. The lobby will celebrate Cargill’s history through graphics and technology. The design is described as “modern, but with materiality, including glass, metal and wood, that pays homage to the 151-year agrarian heritage of Cargill’s brand.”
“Cargill’s new building in Wichita’s Old Town District will celebrate both Cargill’s local roots and global impact,” said Peter Sloan, vice president at architecture firm HOK which designed the facility. “The space is designed to create a welcoming, customer-centric, innovative, sustainable and dynamic space that facilitates collaboration and communicates Cargill’s unique culture and brand to staff, visitors and the community.”
