Burns & McDonnell has proposed the largest ever expansion of its world headquarters complex in south Kansas City to accommodate its rapidly growing work force.

“Burns & McDonnell has made Kansas City its home since the firm was founded in 1898 and this proposed expansion will help continue this tradition for the foreseeable future,” said Greg Graves, Chairman and CEO.

The initial phase would exceed 300,000 square feet with the potential for a second, smaller building with an ultimate cost of up to $130 million for the complete expansion.

The proposed headquarters expansion would allow the company to add as many as 2,100 jobs in Kansas City over the next 10 years. The project would bring the total employment at the complex to 4,300. Burns & McDonnell is partnering with VanTrust Real Estate on the project.

Every business unit in the firm is anticipating growth in 2014, and that is reflected in an unprecedented hiring spree. The employee count totaled 4,300 at year-end 2013, including more than 2,600 employee-owners in Kansas City.

Revenue recorded in 2013 totaled $1.9 billion, up 23 percent over 2012. Ongoing changes in the nation’s energy industry, new water quality regulations and a national movement toward design-build projects is spurring the growth.