Fort Ben’s old bones just got a serious upgrade. Photos posted Tuesday by the City of Lawrence show that Veridus Group has wrapped a more-than-$1 million renovation of a historic Fort Ben building, converting it into the company’s new headquarters. City officials and company leaders say the overhaul dramatically expanded Veridus’s footprint and staff, growing the team from about nine people to more than 30 employees based at the site. The images spotlight preserved historic details alongside fresh meeting rooms and open workspaces.
City Release Spells Out Purchase And Price Tag
According to the City of Lawrence, Veridus purchased the property at 5649 Lee Road in October 2024 and invested over $1 million to stabilize the historic structure and create modern office space. The city’s announcement notes that the renovated building is set to serve as Veridus’s headquarters and will include room for two additional companies, with move-in originally slated for April 2025 and a ribbon-cutting planned for early that summer.
What Veridus Says About Its New Home Base
On its own site, Veridus lists 5649 Lee Road as the company headquarters and describes itself as a family of companies offering owner’s representation, civil and site engineering, and community and economic development services. The site highlights recent organizational growth and open positions that track with the city’s report of a jump in staff. For official company information, see Veridus Group.
Podcast Spotlight And A First Look Inside
The city’s Facebook post also notes that Mayor Deb Whitfield joined Veridus President Tim Jensen on "The Insight Table" podcast to talk about what it means to operate as a local business in Lawrence, and it features photos from the finished office space. You can see the images and the brief recap from the City of Lawrence.
Veridus Move Taps Into Fort Ben’s Bigger Push
City leaders have been pitching Fort Ben as a growing hub for mixed-use projects, and Veridus’s move is one in a string of efforts aimed at bringing more jobs and retail to the neighborhood. In November 2025 the city announced a $25.5 million multifamily project adjacent to the Veridus site and said the plans grew from a collaboration between Rebar Companies and Veridus, with the City of Lawrence detailing the project and Fort Ben’s recent momentum covered in a broader look at the area’s surge in development.
For anyone curious about the restoration work itself, the city’s Facebook post offers the clearest before-and-after look at what changed at 5649 Lee Road. Local residents can also find official announcements and project documents on the City of Lawrence website.
