The developer of one of Uptown Dallas' newest office towers is collaborating with broadcaster KERA on the massive project.
Kaizen Development Partners announced a partnership with KERA to build a mixed-use high-rise project north of downtown.
KERA is selling 2.4 acres of its campus between North Harwood Street and Harry Hines Boulevard, where Kaizen plans a new residential and office tower.
KERA will also build a new headquarters on part of the site. Construction is expected to begin late next year.
“We are excited to work with Kaizen to develop a new building that will better serve the North Texas community and connect us now and for generations to come,” KERA CEO Nico Leone said in a statement. “I am doing so,” he said. “For more than 60 years, people in North Texas have relied on KERA for important news and programming.
“However, our current facility is not equipped to meet the needs of our growing community over the next 60-plus years.”
KERA's site is located near the Dallas North Tollway entrance and adjacent to the growing Harwood neighborhood. The Katy Trail is accessible from the property.
Kaizen plans to build a 400,000-square-foot office tower, residential high-rises, and approximately 20,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space at this scale. The building he plans to open in 2027.
KERA selected Dallas architect Kogan to design the new building. Global firm Gardiner & Theobald will serve as project manager.
The station will temporarily relocate operations from an existing building on the site while its new headquarters is constructed. KERA has occupied part of the building since its founding in 1960.
“This new facility will be a game-changer for KERA,” KERA Chief Operating Officer Christopher Wagley said in a statement. “KERA’s physical space reflects the organization’s mission while continuing its role as a hub for broadcast operations.
“Uniquely located on the Katy Trail in Dallas, this new building will serve as a central destination for staff, audiences, members, donors and volunteers who enable KERA's essential services to millions of people. It will be.”
KERA is a nonprofit public media organization that includes KERA TV, KERA News, KXT 91.7, WRR 101.1 FM, and Denton Record Chronicle.
Dallas law firm Vinson & Elkins LLP represented KERA in the real estate transaction.
Jones Lang LaSalle's Blake Shipley, TD Briggs and Ayanna Jarvis are marketing Kaizen's planned office building to tenants.
The KERA development will be Kaizen's third major project in downtown Dallas.
The commercial real estate firm last year completed the 25-story Link at Uptown office tower on Olive Street north of downtown.
And Kaizen is a partner in the $1 billion Field Street District planned for the Woodall Rogers Freeway downtown.
The KERA project will be the latest large-scale real estate project underway in Uptown.
Just last week, Bank of America announced it would leave its longtime downtown Main Street location and build a 30-story tower uptown. The Klyde Warren Park skyscraper is a project of developers KDC and Pacific Elm Properties.
The Bank of America building, scheduled to break ground by the end of the year, is just the largest of several new offices planned for Uptown.
The Uptown area office project is being built by Granite Properties, Stream Realty Partners and Hines.
