Plans for the Kent Manufacturing & Innovation Campus are moving forward as demand from aerospace, defense, space, and emerging technology users continues to build across the Pacific Northwest. The proposed industrial project, known as KMIC, is planned on a 9.3-acre site in Kent and is being advanced by Mortenson in partnership with the city of Kent.
The campus is being positioned as a future location for specialized occupiers that require customized, next-generation facilities. According to marketing information, KMIC can accommodate between 150,000 and 300,000 square feet of tailored space designed for manufacturing, research and development, office, and other industrial uses. The site is described as a flexible platform that can support a range of advanced production requirements for technology-driven companies.
Brokerage firm Kidder Mathews has been engaged to market the property and lead leasing efforts for the campus. Kidder Mathews professionals Matt Murray, SIOR, Chris Corr, and Dane Dahline, SIOR, are overseeing outreach to prospective tenants and working with users that need specialized build-outs. Their focus includes aligning the campus offering with the requirements of advanced manufacturers and other innovation-focused occupiers active in the region.
A key feature of the project is its access to substantial electrical capacity. The site benefits from proximity to a recently upgraded Puget Sound Energy substation that is capable of supporting up to 20 megawatts of power. This level of capacity is being highlighted as a differentiator for users that rely heavily on automation, robotics, and other advanced production technologies, all of which drive higher electrical demand.
Electrical infrastructure has become a central discussion point in interactions with potential occupants, according to Kidder Mathews. Matt Murray notes that virtually every conversation with advanced manufacturing users includes questions about available power and the ability of a site to support energy-intensive operations. KMIC’s location adjacent to a robust substation is intended to address that concern for prospective tenants.
On the regulatory front, the project recently achieved a milestone with the receipt of SEPA approval, completing its environmental review process. This approval marks a key step in advancing the proposed campus through the local entitlement framework. With environmental review concluded, Mortenson and the city of Kent are positioned to continue refining the plan and engaging with specialized users that may ultimately anchor the manufacturing and innovation campus in the Pacific Northwest.
