Inside the World’s Largest Underground Business Complex in Kansas City, Missouri
- July 12, 2024
While Missouri has several shovel-ready sites to build manufacturing and distribution facilities above the ground, it also boasts millions of square feet of temperature-controlled space underground available for development.
Created from an abandoned limestone mine, the world’s largest underground business complex, SubTropolis, was developed by the Hunt Midwest in the 1960s with Ford, Russel Stover, and Pillsbury as its first clients.
Due to its underground location, SubTropolis is highly energy-efficient. The natural insulation provided by the limestone and the stable underground environment significantly reduces heating and cooling costs. With more than 55 companies and 2,000 employees, SubTropolis businesses span across industries, from animal health and food manufacturing to distribution, automotive, and pharmaceutical.
The Kansas City facility includes 16-foot-high ceilings and 40-foot-wide corridors, allowing easy movement for trucks and heavy machinery. It has its own network of roads, loading docks, and utilities, making it a fully functional industrial complex.Learn more about Missouri’s SubTropolis and other underground facilities in the state in the Missouri Business Alert article How Missouri Businesses are Looking Below the Surface for New Opportunities.