Kansas City newspaper building repurposed into AI data center

The historic Kansas City Star printing press building is set to undergo a major transformation into an artificial intelligence data center, marking a significant shift from traditional media infrastructure to modern tech facilities.

Project Overview: Software company Patmos has announced plans to convert the 400,000-square-foot glass building into its flagship data center as part of a $1 billion development initiative.

• The facility, located at 1601 McGee St., will become a 100-plus megawatt AI innovation center
• Patmos plans to begin operations with a small portion of system capacity as early as next month
• Full implementation is expected within 18 months
• The company already operates data centers in Kansas City, Dallas, and Phoenix

Infrastructure Advantages: The existing building infrastructure provides Patmos with significant cost and time savings compared to traditional new construction approaches.

• The facility’s existing infrastructure allows for development at a fraction of the cost compared to major tech companies spending $20 million per megawatt
• The renovation approach aims to preserve architectural heritage while reducing environmental impact
• The building’s size and existing systems make it particularly suitable for data center conversion

Historical Significance: The iconic glass and copper building represents an important piece of Kansas City’s media history and urban development.

• The structure opened in 2006 following a $200 million investment
• It originally housed four state-of-the-art printing presses serving The Star and other publications
• The Kansas City Star vacated the building in 2021 during its parent company’s bankruptcy reorganization
• The Privitera family’s Ambassador Hospitality purchased the property in 2019 for $30.1 million

Alternative Development Context: The building’s future had been the subject of other development considerations before the Patmos project.

• The site was previously considered as a potential location for a downtown Royal baseball stadium
• Those plans were effectively ended when Jackson County voters rejected a related tax measure in April

Market Positioning: Patmos positions itself as an alternative to established tech companies with a focus on free speech principles.

• The company markets itself as a free speech-driven alternative to major tech corporations
• This expansion aims to address growing client demand for their services

Future Implications: While the project represents a significant investment in Kansas City’s tech infrastructure, the success of this adaptive reuse project could serve as a model for similar conversions of legacy media facilities nationwide, particularly as traditional printing operations continue to consolidate and relocate.