Aerial view of the Administrative Building at Wichita's Northwest Water Facility

11.13.23

Construction Completed on Key Facility

Crews have successfully completed construction of the Administrative Building on-site at Wichita’s Northwest Water Facility! This marks another significant milestone in the development of the City’s largest infrastructure investment in history.

The 14,000 square-foot space is a key structure to the operations of the water treatment plant. It will house both administrative offices and a fully accredited NELAP laboratory.

“The Administration Building contains all of the laboratories that the city of Wichita will need to replace their existing water quality lab downtown,” said Evan Menkes, project manager for Wichita Water Partners. “The building also contains office space for 12-15 management staff and community spaces that can be used for outreach and training.”

The training room is oriented with views of the site and will accommodate up to 80 individuals. Also housed inside the modern architecture are five certified labs including bacteriology, metals, organics, drinking and wastewater, and instrumentation. Once operational in 2024, staff will perform analytical work for the water treatment plant as well as for additional City of Wichita facilities and other agencies in the south-central region.

“The Administration Building is a critical component to the new Northwest Wichita Water Treatment Facility,” said Justin Graham, Vice President, Schaefer Architecture. “Not only does it serve as the only building on campus that interfaces with the public, but it also provides spaces for auxiliary control of the treatment center, and sample testing to be sure that safe drinking water is delivered to the Wichita community.”

The completion of the Admin Building is a testament to the collaborative efforts between Schaefer Architecture, PEC, Dudley-Williams & Associates and Dondlinger Construction.

When completed, Wichita’s Northwest Water Facility will pump 120 million gallons of drinking water each day to more than half a million residents in south central Kansas. The $500 million project will replace the City’s 80-year-old water treatment plant.