McKinstry to Expand Innovation Center in Seattle and Add New One in Spokane

McKinstry’s Innovation Center is a creative approach to encouraging startups.Here’s a press release outlining plans for expanding the current Center and adding a new one east of the Cascades.

McKinstry Innovation Center At Capacity And Expanding

Now with 13 companies; Center will be expanded, doubling its size

SEATTLE (May 2, 2012) Since opening two years ago, the McKinstry Innovation Center has added a total of 13 companies and organizations dedicated to supplying vital ideas and solutions to the energy challenges facing the environment and region. McKinstry announced today that the Center will be expanded by an additional 18,000 square feet to accommodate more companies and a conferencing center.

Our vision was to create a springboard for the green economy from clean tech innovations, to the education sector, said Dean Allen, CEO of McKinstry. We are now realizing how this model can play an integral role in the advancement of our green economy.

Two new companies Reklaim and E3 Washington have taken the McKinstry Innovation Center to capacity. In addition to being full, the Centers other tenants continue to grow and many have already renewed their leases. The McKinstry Innovation Center has expanded its reach from the built environment to the renewable materials and education sectors, demonstrating the importance of reaching all areas of clean energy advancement.

Today, McKinstry also announced it is building a 38,000-square-foot Center in Spokane at the recently completed SIERR Building at McKinstry Station an historic electric railcar depot that now serves as the base for McKinstrys Inland Northwest operations.

The model has not only shown that it works, but the demand has been inspiring, said Tony Stewart, vice president in charge of the McKinstry Innovation Center. We are expanding the concept strategically with our company into other markets as well.

The Seattle Innovation Center expansion work is currently in the planning phase. Similar to the current design, the new build out allows companies to move into spaces that accommodates for their future growth and needs. Unique to the expansion, is a conferencing center that will serve as a convening space for leaders to discuss the top issues affecting the region in the built environment, clean tech, high tech, education and life sciences.

The expansion of McKinstrys Innovation Center in Seattle is outstanding news for innovators in the clean tech, education, high tech and life sciences space, said Kim Zentz, CEO of Innovate Washington. McKinstrys demonstrated commitment to innovation and early-stage entrepreneurs is an extraordinary asset for the communities in which McKinstry does business. Innovate Washington is delighted to be one of McKinstrys many partners in continuing to grow its innovation success in Seattle.

The two new tenants include:

Reklaim. The company has developed a technology that recycles crumb rubber from scrap tires to create carbon black products and energy, which are currently produced and sold from its manufacturing facility in Boardman, Oregon.

E3 Washington. The educational non-profit integrates three systems education, environment, and economy and asks, How can education help achieve a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future for all?

These two companies join the existing McKinstry Innovation Center companies: General Biodiesel, EcoFab, Hydrovolts, Washington STEM, Intersect, Everest Sciences, TreeFree Biomass Solutions and Teach For America.

McKinstry to Build Spokane Innovation Center

for Emerging Companies

Center to be located at the recently opened historic

Spokane & Inland Empire Railroad (SIERR) building

SPOKANE, Wash. (May 2, 2012) McKinstry, a leader in integrated construction, energy, service and smart building innovations, announced today that it is building a McKinstry Innovation Center in Spokane. The Center, similar to the one located on McKinstrys Seattle campus, will house new and emerging companies together with life sciences, education, high tech and clean tech firms to foster the advancement of technology, products and services.

Spokane, and specifically the University District, is a hub for innovation and development, said Tony Stewart, vice president in charge of the McKinstry Innovation Center. The addition of the Spokane McKinstry Innovation Center will provide innovative companies with a unique place to collaborate and gain the momentum they need to bring new ideas to market.

Being housed under one roof provides the organizations opportunities to collaborate and build synergy with like-minded visionaries, and gain access to the best and brightest minds at McKinstry. The concept for the Center was launched with the opening of its Seattle facility in the fall of 2009. Since then, 13 companies have moved in and the space is now fully leased. Plans are currently underway to double the size of the Seattle Innovation Center to accommodate more tenants as well as a conferencing center.

The 38,000-square-foot Spokane Innovation Center will be located at the recently completed SIERR Building at McKinstry Station a historic electric railcar depot that now serves as the base for McKinstrys Inland Northwest operations. In addition to the office space located in the historic SIERR Building, prototyping, research and development space will also be available in the adjacent building that serves as McKinstrys shop.

With the addition of McKinstrys Innovation Center, Inland Northwest innovators more than double their access to professional advice, mentoring, equipment, connections to markets and access to capital, said Kim Zentz, CEO of Innovate Washington. The veteran technology entrepreneurs on staff at Innovate Washington are enthusiastic to supplement McKinstrys Innovation Center model in every community they serve.

Construction is slated for completion in summer 2012. The project team includes architecture firm NBBJ, Lydig Construction, McKinstry and DCI Engineers.

Today, we are celebrating a new addition to Spokane that will help businesses grow and create jobs, says Mayor David Condon. McKinstrys Innovation Center is a perfect fit for our University District, a place designed to be a hub for research and innovation and entrepreneurship. This center will have a lasting impact on Spokane, and I thank McKinstry for their continuing investment in our community.

About McKinstry Innovation Center

Founded and developed by McKinstry, the McKinstry Innovation Center brings creative organizations together under one roof to encourage collaboration, build synergy with like-minded visionaries and provide access to the best and brightest minds at McKinstry. The Center houses a mix of tenants, from established companies with proven ideas who use the facility as their base of operations, to newly-formed companies and one-person offices that could benefit from the experienced assistance of a mentoring team. For more information, visit https://www.mckinstryinnovationcenter.com/innovatewithus/spokanecampus.html or contact Tony Stewart at McKinstry, (509)625-3186 or [email protected].