Lightwell Lands Two Tech Tenants

The lightwell office tower, formerly City Center Square, has landed two tech-oriented tenants: the Kansas City Tech Council and PayIt, a digital payment platform founded locally in 2013.

PayIt is relocating from 1812 Broadway and plans to lease 23,000 square feet this June in the 30-story building currently being renovated at 12th and Main. The KC Tech Council is moving from 1100 Main and plans to lease 2,100 square feet in July.

New York-based SomeraRoad acquired the former City Center Square building early last year and is completely overhauling the 43 year-old office tower and rebranding it lightwell.

The $85 million project already has landed a major new tenant, WeWork, which announced last year it would lease 100,000 square feet. Somera also is in negotiations to bring a five-chef food parlor operated by Menlo Food Labs to the lobby.

PayIt provides an industry-leading digital government and payments platform that simplifies doing business with state and local government, according to a press release from Somera Road.

PayIt was honored by Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards for 2019 and named one of the GovTech 100 for 2020 for the  fourth consecutive year, according to the release. The firm already has 30 employees working at lightwell in temporary space.

In addition, to their office space, PayIt is also getting a private roof deck on a setback at lightwell that hasn’t been used previously, according to the release.

“PayIt is exactly the type of forward-thinking tech company that understands what we’re creating at lightwell,” Basel Bataineh, Somera vice president, said in a statement.

“They’re a major contributor to Kansas City’s burgeoning tech ecosystem and are on track to become one of KC’s next great corporations.”

Rendering of the lounge at lightwell. (Rendering by HOK)

KC Tech Council is an organization that focuses on policy advocacy, workforce development and industry access to tech-focused companies and employees through education and programming, according to a Somera press release.

“We believe that lightwell represents the future of office space in Kansas City and we are so excited that it is being built around tech,” Kara Lowe, KC Tech Council COO, said in a statement.

“Our move is a reflection of the sentiment that the future of the KC economy is tech, we want to be right in the middle of it.”

As part of their new lease agreement, the KC Tech Council will be utilizing lightwell’s new state-of-the-art conference center to host industry events and technical courses in computer programming, according to the release.

SomeraRoad and lightwell are represented by AREA Real Estate Advisors.

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