K.C.-based architectural design firm Populous "is moving from its custom-built offices in the River Market to a new home in the Board of Trade building near the Country Club Plaza," according to Kevin Collison of the K.C. STAR. The firm "plans to lease 65,000 square feet in the Board of Trade building at 4800 Main St." Populous Founder & Senior Principal Earl Santee yesterday said that the company "decided to seek new space after having difficulties negotiating a new lease with its current landlord, Orix, a Dallas real estate investment trust." Its lease expires in fall '15. Santee said of the 93,000-square-foot building Populous has previously occupied, "There’s nothing wrong with the building and the River Market. Our intention was to stay here, but as time went on, it was the difficulty of working with a building owner not from Kansas City." Santee said that the new space at the 165,714-square-foot Board of Trade building "would allow Populous to continue to expand." The company employs 240 people at its K.C. office and "expects that number will reach 280 by the time it moves to the Board of Trade building" in fall '15. Santee: "We were born in Kansas City and we’re committed to stay in Kansas City" (K.C. STAR, 4/24).
