Award: New practice facility and headquarters
Value: $300 million
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Client: Kansas City Chiefs
The NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs are embarking on a new franchise chapter and picked a local firm to help.
The Chiefs selected Kansas City, Missouri-based Burns & McDonnell as owner’s representative for the team’s forthcoming $300 million headquarters and practice facility in nearby Olathe, Kansas. Burns & McDonnell will work with CAA ICON to advise the Chiefs throughout the development of the facility, which will support both business and football operations, according to a July 16 announcement from the franchise.
The construction firm will provide independent oversight and leadership to guide the process from early planning through construction and occupancy, per the announcement. The firm will work with building professionals to help achieve project and budget goals. The facility is expected to open in 2031.
"As a local, employee-owned firm with a track record of project success around the world, we know they have the right mix of local knowledge as well as global experience to help us navigate the upcoming design and construction phases of a truly unique year-round home for our football team and staff,” Matt Kenny, Chiefs chief operations officer and executive vice president, said in the announcement.
The news comes as the franchise prepares to move away from its iconic home venue, Arrowhead Stadium. In addition to the new practice facility and headquarters, the franchise plans to build a $3 billion stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas. Altogether, the Chiefs will put forward a one-time capital investment of $4.5 billion across the new practice facility, stadium and two real estate development areas.
The team and the state of Kansas initially reached an agreement in December, according to an announcement from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly.
The team joins other NFL franchises that are in the midst of upgrading or moving their stadiums. The Cleveland Browns, for example, broke ground on a $2.4 billion stadium project on April 30 with builders AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction at the helm.
Meanwhile, a joint venture of Turner and Gilbane Building gave the Buffalo Bills’ owners the keys to the franchise’s new stadium in June.