State notifies committee of proposed sale of former KDHE lab campus in Topeka

Paul Fernkopf of the Kansas Department of Administration's Office of Facilities and Property Management told the Joint Committee on State Building Construction that the department has declared the former KDHE lab campus at 6810 Southeast Dwight Street in Topeka surplus and is moving forward with a proposed sale. "I am providing notice of the proposed sale of the property at 6810 Southeast Dwight Street in Topeka, Kansas," Fernkopf said during the meeting.

Fernkopf said the department sent a request to declare the property surplus under KSA 75-66-09 on Nov. 3, 2025; the secretary of administration recommended the property for sale in a letter dated Jan. 19, 2026, and the governor approved moving forward on Jan. 20, 2026. He described the site as the entirety of the former KDHE lab campus, including the main building and outbuildings; the main facility is approximately 136,082 square feet on about 34 acres. Fernkopf said the property will be sold by auction and declined to provide a market estimate at the briefing to avoid influencing bidders.

During questions, Senator Billinger asked about the department's original purchase price and whether new air service could affect value; Fernkopf said he did not have the historical purchase price available at the meeting and that he was not aware of air-service developments. A committee member noted the committee had toured the site and said the site's condition and location likely make it a poor candidate for reuse by other state entities; Fernkopf agreed the building would require substantial renovations and said this briefing was notification only, not a request for committee action.