From the Ground Up: Amazon fulfillment center

Owner/developer: Amazon.com Services LLC (Seattle) / Seefried Industrial Properties Inc. (Atlanta)
General contractor: The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. (Kansas City)
Architect: M & H Architects (St. Louis)
Engineers: Lee Engineering and Associates LLC, civil and survey; and M & H Architects, mechanical, electrical and plumbing
Size: 1.3 million square feet
Estimated cost: $25 million, per state zoning application
Lender: Commerce Bank
Estimated completion: August
Project description: Seattle-based online retailer Amazon.com Inc. is constructing a large-scale distribution and fulfillment center in Republic, just south of James River Freeway. Republic spokesperson Mike Landis said groundwork on the development site in Garton Business Park began Sept. 29. A notice of intent for a Missouri Enhanced Enterprise Zone shows an estimated real property investment for the building of $25 million. Amazon officials have said they expect to hire 500 full-time jobs with a starting wage of $15 per hour. Amazon also operates a fulfillment center, a sortation center and three delivery stations in Missouri, with two more delivery stations set to open this year in Springfield and Joplin. Between 2010 and 2019, company officials say they’ve invested over $780 million in the state, including infrastructure and employee compensation.