The Eskie Update | Fall 2025
Happy Fall from the Eskie Team!
We’ve adjusted to the new office, reached significant project milestones, and have appreciated every bit of the past quarter. Now, let’s dive into the details!
PROJECT UPDATES
Master's Transportation Headquarters Campus – RIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATION 🎉
Client: Master’s Transportation
Project Size: $70M | ~300,000 SF
Project Partners: Miller Stauch Construction | Finkle + Williams Architecture | Renaissance Infrastructure Consulting | Port KC | Spaces Inc. | KCAV
We officially celebrated the brand new Master’s Transportation Headquarters Campus with a packed Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on October 4.
The ceremony was a wonderful experience to be a part of, hearing from speakers like John Goodbrake, President of Master’s Transportation, and Quinton Lucas, Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri.
Congratulations to the fantastic team that worked hard to get our client moved in and operating at their brand new, state-of-the-art facility.
We will continue to work through punch list and additional scope items as needed.
Citizens of the World Addition– CONSTRUCTION 🚜
Client: Citizens of the World Charter Schools - Kansas City
Project Size: $16.7M
Project Partners: McCownGordon Construction | Multistudio | STAND Structural Engineering | PKMR Engineers | Martin & Martin | FOCAL Design | Titan Environmental
As a privately funded project, Citizens of the World Charter Schools (CWCKC) is constructing an addition to their location on Broadway Boulevard in Kanas City, MO. This will provide purpose-built spaces for special education, specials, regular education classrooms, and a consolidated administrative suite, helping cater to the current student and staff population.
In the last few weeks, the plumbing rough in was completed, slab poured, and the storm shelter walls were set up for the first floor. After steel framing is complete, we will begin joist and deck work.
Separate from the addition are the KCPS district-wide bond updates that include CWCKC. This will involve a full replacement of the windows on the East and West sides of the building, targeted renovations in the existing building, upgrades to the HVAC system, and new inclusive outdoor spaces.
KCPS Charter School Bond Projects – PROJECT PLANNING 📊🗓️
Client: Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS)
Project Size: $50M | 9 Charter Schools
All nine charters have started projects like HVAC upgrades, roof repairs, turfing soccer fields, playground fencing, replacing retaining walls, resurfacing parking lots, installing new windows, and updating technology and furniture. For a full list of KCPS’ district-wide improvements, visit their website.
Our role as the KCPS Charter Owner’s Representative is to ensure all project team members and activities follow the project guidelines in place, while maintaining frequent communication with KCPS. We report project status, track invoices, provide approval packages, and share updates at KCPS’ monthly board meetings, illustrating total spent and remaining bond funds, as well as design and construction progress made.
Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center – CONSTRUCTION ONGOING 🚜
Client: Missouri Southern State University
Project Size: $48M | 68,000 SF
Project Partners: Crossland Construction | CGA Architects | RDG | Pulse Design
Down in Joplin, MO, exterior and interior materials are currently being installed. Walls are being painted, and millwork is underway. Site and fountain work continue. The fountain base has been poured, with the prefabricated fountain scheduled for installation later this spring. The building is fully dried in, and interior work is expected to be completed this winter.
Substantial completion is planned for March, with the project finalized by June of 2026. Overall construction is estimated to finish by next fall.
Basehor-Linwood Early Learning Center – GROUND BREAKING 🏗️
Client: Basehor-Linwood USD 458
Project Size: $60M | K-12 Bond Projects
Project Partners: McCownGordon Construction | HTK Architects | Schlagel & Associates
As part of the use of bond funds, the Early Learning Center (ELC) is receiving an expansion — and the project team has officially broken ground!
After finalizing the GMP and receiving board approval, the Groundbreaking Ceremony took place on September 30th, just down the street from the active Basehor-Linwood High School project. Following the celebration, sitework began the next day. Earthwork will be completed prior to digging footings and foundations, picking-up construction throughout October.
Basehor-Linwood High School Addition – CONSTRUCTION ONGOING 🏗️
Amazing progress is being made over in Basehor, KS to the high school addition — just check out these site photos!
Construction of the addition is projected to be complete prior to the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
Canyon Creek Apartment Homes – CONSTRUCTION ONGOING 🪚 🔨
Client: MRE Capital
Project Size: $46M | 5 Buildings | 212 Units
Project Partners: Schlagel | Streamline General Contractors | KTI | TranSystems
In Lenexa, KS, the roadway project for the new Canyon Creek Apartment Home complex has been successfully completed and is now fully operational.
Drywall installation and interior finishes are advancing steadily throughout the first phase of the buildings. Concurrently, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) rough-in work is making good progress across the second and third phases of construction.
Photos by Streamline
Pittsburg Regional Crime Center + Laboratory – GROUND BREAKING ✏️
Client: Kansas Bureau of Investigation | Pittsburg State University
Project Size: ≈ $56M | 62,000 SF
Project Partners: McCownGordon Construction | PGAV Architects | Henderson
We have OFFICIALLY broken ground for the new Pittsburg Regional Crime Center + Laboratory. This is a huge milestone for the project team and our client the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. We are proud of the work that has gotten us to this point and are excited to kick off construction.
Construction is set to begin with jobsite setup and earthwork planned for the coming weeks.
Salina Healthcare Clinic + Educational Training Center – DESIGN DEVELOPMENT ✏️
Client: Salina Health Education Foundation
Project Size: $44M | 88,000 SF
Project Partners: McCownGordon Construction | HFG Architecture
Construction drawings for the new Salina Healthcare Clinic + Educational Training Center are being reviewed and scheduled to be issued at the end of this month. We are actively coordinating and assisting with the vendor selection process for multiple scopes, including signage, furniture, security, low voltage, and doors.
Bidding is planned for the first week of December.
Render by HFG Architecture
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Teaming up for K-12 Education ✏️
Eskie + Lighthouse is the new strategic partnership for K-12 Education Owner’s Representative Services.
As this service gains prominence in the sector, we believe it is more important than ever to ensure our K-12 partners receive the highest level of support and quality representation.
Given the distinctive nature of construction and renovation projects within K-12, our mission is to establish the standard of care you should expect from an Owner's Representative.
Together, the Eskie + Lighthouse alliance has provided Owner’s Representation services for over $700M worth of project value in K-12 Education. Tucker Peddicord and Whitney Henlee, Owners of LCG, offer a wealth of expertise in bond planning and preconstruction. Erin Eskie Merrill, along with Eskie + Associates’ committed team of Owner’s Representatives, brings in-depth knowledge of the construction process and unparalleled dedication to client success.
For more information on our new partnership within K-12 Education, please reach out to our team (julie@eskieandassociates.com). We are eager connect with our community of educators and project partners.
UPCOMING RECENT EVENTS
While there is nothing approaching on the calendar, there have been plenty of events that have kept us busy this past quarter — check some of them out below!
Our Office Warming Celebration 🎉
Complete with hors d'oeuvres, new office tours, and an Eskie-themed cocktail (a Cranberr-E Spritz), family, friends, and project partners of Eskie joined us on October 16th for a spectacular office warming celebration.
Thank you to everyone who has tagged along for Eskie + Associates’ journey so far. Without the relationships we have built and success stories we have played a part in, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Thanks to our amazing community of AEC + CRE professionals, as well as the clients who have championed our work, we have been able to grow in a way that allows us to make a greater impact on the ever-changing world of construction and development.
Breakthrough T1D Walk
The Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) Kansas City Walk on October 11 was a huge success! Located at the National World War I Memorial & Museum in Kansas City, MO, friends, family, and those affected by Type 1 Diabetes joined together on a stunning day for an empowering walk around the monument.
Surrounding the event, participants, sponsors, and gracious donors have helped raise over $419,000 to date!
With many members of our team being personally impacted by this disease, we are proud to be part of the advancement towards curing T1D and encourage the continued support for this organization.
If you would like to join us in supporting Breakthrough T1D and helping those living with Type 1 Diabetes, please visit the link below.
Stay tuned for future fundraising and educational opportunities!
KCPS Educational Foundation State of the Schools Breakfast
We are proud to represent the KCPS Charter Schools through their bond projects and be there through every step of the journey… and we are lucky that it includes breakfast with the community!
Harvesting Hope — Growingfutures
Eskie was proud to be guests of A.L. Huber’s at the Growingfutures Harvesting Hope event on October 2. We are in awe of the work this organization does!
ESKIE TEAM SPOTLIGHT
Erin Eskie Merrill | Owner + Managing Partner
Erin and her husband Fred, along with some of their friends, recently made their way across the pond and into Ireland for the Kansas State versus Iowa State football game. Hosted at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Erin joined alongside thousands of international fans cheering on her alma mater in a showdown best known as “Farmageddon”.
While the crew was there for the game, they had added some exciting stops into their vacation plans.
Kilkea Castle, located in Kilkea, Ireland (in the countryside about an hour outside of Dublin) was one of Erin’s favorite destinations during their trip. At this stop, they were excited (and terrified) to complete a well-themed escape room located in the basement area of the castle.
To help forget the terror of the aforementioned escape room, the group later toured the Guinness Brewery where they learned to pour the perfect pint!
After five nights in Ireland, the group flew to London. Over the course of the next week, they were able to attend a Chelsea football match, visit Buckingham Palace, and even recreate the cover for one of Fred’s favorite albums on the famous Abbey Road.
All-in-all, it was a trip for the books.
Thank you for tuning in for our update. We love being able to share about our team and the work we do. See you again next quarter!
