TOPEKA (KSNT) – A new innovation center is getting ready to open its doors in downtown Topeka.
Signage went up earlier this week at the Link Innovation Labs in Topeka ahead of its big grand opening celebration next month. Locals will get their first opportunity to tour the new innovation center on Feb. 9 at 220 Southeast Sixth Ave. in the downtown area.
Stephanie Moran, senior vice president of innovation at the Greater Topeka Partnership, said construction at the labs has been ongoing for months following the groundbreaking ceremony in June last year. She said some of the last pieces of the process are falling into place this week as workers install furniture ahead of the big opening day.
“We’ve been trying to build out this innovation center for years now,” Moran said.
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Moran said that, following approval of the project in late 2024, things have moved forward at a rapid pace. The end goal with the innovation center is to provide a space where local organizations can collaborate, perform research and engage in entrepreneurship together.
“I think the thing we’ve been working towards and why we’ve been working so hard to get open is that this is a place where innovators can meet, get together and by having this space we can have startups work together under one roof,” Moran said.
New signage is up at the Link Innovation Labs in downtown Topeka that will be opening soon. (Photo By: Tim Schoepflin)
New signage is up at the Link Innovation Labs in downtown Topeka that will be opening soon. (Photo By: Tim Schoepflin)
New signage is up at the Link Innovation Labs in downtown Topeka that will be opening soon. (Photo By: Tim Schoepflin)
Group’s like GO Topeka, Plug and Play Topeka, Sparrow Coffee at Link and the Washburn University Small Business Development Center will all be found inside the building. Moran said the total cost of the innovation center comes out to around $15 million: $6.5 million for building costs, $5 million in operating costs and the rest is attributed to infrastructure costs.
“We’ll also be running our small business and entrepreneurship spaces in here,” Moran said.
Moran said that, initially, the innovation center will just consist of the first floor of the old AT&T building. However, she said future expansion to additional parts of the building isn’t being ruled out.
“We’re looking for opportunities to expand and grow as we get tenants in here,” Moran said.
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You can learn more about Link Innovation Labs and what it has to offer by clicking here.
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