JLL helps Propio build culture-first KC campus

After completing four acquisitions in just 18 months, Propio Language Services became one of the largest language services providers in the world. As headcount significantly increased, the technology company was faced with surplus locations around the globe and a Kansas City headquarters that was too small. Propio’s leadership realized it needed a new space that could accommodate its continued growth and support its five-day in-office culture.

The new headquarters needed to support Propio’s rapid growth, but also provide an amenity-rich, employee-centric experience that underscored Propio’s commitment to its people and the Kansas City market.

Propio turned to JLL for support with consolidating its global operations and growing its footprint in Kansas City. The company chose Kansas City as its consolidation hub because the city has served as its home base since 1998, and leadership wanted to deepen its investment in the local community. The decision to close its international offices required exiting more than a dozen leases around the world. While a few of these leases were already due to expire, a globally weak office market required expert negotiations with landlords to secure early lease terminations. Local JLL leads in each market assisted with the entire process, balancing the economics of exiting each space with local office market conditions and the need for fast action.

Closing its overseas offices enabled Propio to focus on more than doubling its Kansas City headquarters. While a new campus could support Propio’s growth and provide an energizing workplace experience, finding the right site proved challenging.

Kansas City has a limited number of large, vacant office spaces, and Propio needed adequate square footage to support its expansion plans in a configuration that made sense for the company’s operations. The vision for headquarters was unique—it needed to be flexible enough to support heavy amenities and allow Propio to continue to grow. The team determined that to achieve its ambitious vision for the new headquarters, it would need a single-tenant building. Equally challenging was finding a landlord partner willing to support the company’s far-reaching, amenity-rich plans for the site.

Propio and JLL identified and secured two joined buildings in the Kansas City metro area totaling 81,482 square feet that could be combined to create a cohesive headquarters environment. This strategic solution maximized available space while offering the flexibility Propio needed. JLL navigated the complexity of leasing connected buildings to ensure seamless operations across the expanded footprint.

The landlord worked with Propio to completely overhaul the property and bring the new headquarters to life. The complex, turnkey deal shifted buildout cost responsibility to the landlord, saving Propio roughly $8 million in costs while keeping rent in line with the market. Close collaboration among Propio, the landlord and JLL, as well as the design and construction teams, enabled successful delivery despite permitting and construction hurdles.

Propio wanted to deliver an “amazing” workplace—and the new campus delivers. Completed in March 2026, the headquarters features a modern, employee-centric design that supports Propio’s in-office culture and serves as a point of pride for the team.

Amenities include a private gym, yoga studio, a large café with daily health-forward meals for staff and a dedicated social space dubbed Propio Pub. A scrum room and product presentation centers support the company’s growing tech footprint. The company is also building Propio Park, an adjacent sports complex featuring pickleball courts and a soccer stadium, reflecting Propio’s drive for employees to bring their best self to the office.

The new headquarters offers the perfect home base for Propio’s expansion as the company invests in its employees and technology to further its mission of connecting the world, one conversation at a time. The property also reflects the company's vision for a unique and engaging workplace that prioritizes employee well-being. By committing to Kansas City, Propio is contributing to the rise of a center of innovation and entrepreneurship—while helping make the city a great place to work.

“This was a complex, turnkey project with a lot of moving parts, and Anné [Erickson] and JLL were there every single day, helping us work through issues I’d never seen before. She didn’t just find and negotiate the building; she was the person I called when things got messy, the one who kept us grounded and moving forward.”

Stefani Voorhees, Propio’s Chief Human Resources Officer