A Room to keep growing

Sunday, June 19, 2005

By MARIAN ACCARDI
Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com

When Dynetics Inc. moved into Cummings Research Park West in July 1984 - becoming the first company to locate in the park's western expansion - its building was surrounded by cotton fields.

"We started to wonder if we were going to be by ourselves here," said Dr. Marc Bendickson, the chief executive officer of the company that specializes in research, development and engineering services and products.

Dynetics was joined by other firms over the last 20 years, and several more companies, even a high school, will be moving into new buildings in the western section this fall and early next year. In all, 220 companies, agencies and schools are located across the country's second-largest research park that takes in more than 3,800 acres.

Dynetics itself has branched out at its 1000 Explorer Blvd. address, adding onto its original building and a second building, a research and development facility. It broke ground last December on a third building, a four-story, 160,000-square-foot corporate headquarters. When that's finished, possibly by early next year, the Dynetics campus will grow to about 277,000 total square feet, giving the company room to grow and to consolidate its 710 Huntsville employees in Huntsville, who are spread out over seven buildings.

"This is in a good location for our customers," that include the Space & Missile Defense Command and the Army's Aviation & Missile Command, said Bendickson. "All the infrastructure is coming together. It's a good-looking park."

Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer described the park's appeal this way: "Success breeds more success. It's great to be able to say, 'I'm in Research Park with SAIC. I'm in Research Park with Raytheon.' "

The park has had both growth spurts and periods when growth leveled off, mostly due to money available for federal programs, said Charlie Grainger, the chairman of the Research Park Board and a long-time board member. Its overall growth is no surprise to him. "The park is a true jewel, a place where everybody wants to be," he said. The emphasis on keeping a high-quality, campus-type research environment - starting back when Joe Moquin and the late Milton Cummings spearheaded the effort for a research park - "has contributed to that momentum," Grainger said.

There's still more room for growth.

Right now, about 142 acres in Cummings Research Park West are available for sale, said Spencer. That land already has infrastructure like underground wiring, utilities, sewer and streets in place. Within the next 12 months, an additional 103 acres should be available for sale to tenants "once the proposed infrastructure is in," she said.

Another 235 acres of property is either under option agreements or being held pending the finalization of sales or option agreements between the city and prospective tenants, Spencer said. There's another 285 acres that the city already owns or is in the process of buying, though no funding plan is in place for the infrastructure yet.

Roughly the remaining 90 acres in the park's master plan isn't owned by the city but could be available in the future, according to Spencer.

"Certainly if the demand continues as it is, we would be open to looking at another sizable tract for growth in another part of the city," if that opportunity came about, said Spencer.

Some of the latest developments under way:

Westar Aerospace & Defense Group Inc. broke ground in February on a two-story, 85,000-square-foot building at Cummings Research Park West that will allow Huntsville operations to be consolidated at a single facility and allow for corporate growth plans. Construction of the $10 million facility, at 890 Explorer Blvd., is expected to be completed in early 2006. Westar is now in the eastern part of the park.
Analytical Services Inc. is building a 25,000-square-foot corporate headquarters at 350 Voyager Way to accommodate current and future growth. The building is expected to be operational Oct. 17, and a grand opening is scheduled for early December.
Northrop Grumman Corp. plans to break ground on June 27 for the first 250,000-square-foot building in a five-building complex for its 1,200 local employees who are now scattered among 20 sites around town. The $80 million complex is expected to take three to five years to complete.
Los Angeles-based O&S Holdings LLC broke ground June 1 at the site of the $210 million, 100-acre World Famous Bridge Street project that will include nearly 500,000 square feet of retail space, a 16-screen theater, a performing arts center, office buildings and the Westin Huntsville Hotel & Residences that will include luxury condominiums. That first phase is scheduled for completion at the end of 2006. The property is on the north side of Old Madison Pike, just west of Research Park Boulevard.
The $19 million Columbia High School, now under construction on the western edge of the park, is expected to open in August.

Just over a week ago, the Huntsville City Council authorized the mayor to enter into a sales contract with Delta Research Inc., a military defense engineering firm, to buy 13 acres on Explorer Boulevard at Enterprise Way. The company plans to build a 30,000-square-feet building, moving from the 11,000-square-foot building on Wynn Drive on the east side of the park where the company has been for about 17 years. A second 30,000-square-foot building is planned as the company expands.

Other major companies are "looking for growth opportunities" at the park, Spencer said, "but we're not at liberty to quote who they are." A city planning subcommittee last week approved an amendment to city zoning laws that would allow companies in Cummings Research Park to provide sleeping quarters for visiting scientists and researchers. A city planner said a biotech research company considering locating in Cummings Research Park is requesting the change, but declined to identify the firm.

Meanwhile, the city is moving to make land available in other areas to help bring more companies to Huntsville. Spencer and other city officials held a news conference Friday afternoon to announce a proposal to purchase 145 acres for an expansion of the North Huntsville Industrial Park.

"It opens more areas for manufacturing,'' Spencer said. "We have to be diverse and have to offer all kinds of jobs. It's being forward thinking.''

Business Editor Wayne Smith contributed to this report.



A Room to keep growing Cummings Research Park is still where everyone wants be Sunday, June 19, 2005 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com When Dynetics Inc. moved into Cummings Research Park West in July 1984 - becoming the first company to locate in the park's western expansion - its building was surrounded by cotton fields. "We started to wonder if we were going to be by ourselves here," said Dr. Marc Bendickson, the chief executive officer of the company that specializes in research, development and engineering services and products. Dynetics was joined by other firms over the last 20 years, and several more companies, even a high school, will be moving into new buildings in the western section this fall and early next year. In all, 220 companies, agencies and schools are located across the country's second-largest research park that takes in more than 3,800 acres. Dynetics itself has branched out at its 1000 Explorer Blvd. address, adding onto its original building and a second building, a research and development facility. It broke ground last December on a third building, a four-story, 160,000-square-foot corporate headquarters. When that's finished, possibly by early next year, the Dynetics campus will grow to about 277,000 total square feet, giving the company room to grow and to consolidate its 710 Huntsville employees in Huntsville, who are spread out over seven buildings. "This is in a good location for our customers," that include the Space & Missile Defense Command and the Army's Aviation & Missile Command, said Bendickson. "All the infrastructure is coming together. It's a good-looking park." Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer described the park's appeal this way: "Success breeds more success. It's great to be able to say, 'I'm in Research Park with SAIC. I'm in Research Park with Raytheon.' " The park has had both growth spurts and periods when growth leveled off, mostly due to money available for federal programs, said Charlie Grainger, the chairman of the Research Park Board and a long-time board member. Its overall growth is no surprise to him. "The park is a true jewel, a place where everybody wants to be," he said. The emphasis on keeping a high-quality, campus-type research environment - starting back when Joe Moquin and the late Milton Cummings spearheaded the effort for a research park - "has contributed to that momentum," Grainger said. There's still more room for growth. Right now, about 142 acres in Cummings Research Park West are available for sale, said Spencer. That land already has infrastructure like underground wiring, utilities, sewer and streets in place. Within the next 12 months, an additional 103 acres should be available for sale to tenants "once the proposed infrastructure is in," she said. Another 235 acres of property is either under option agreements or being held pending the finalization of sales or option agreements between the city and prospective tenants, Spencer said. There's another 285 acres that the city already owns or is in the process of buying, though no funding plan is in place for the infrastructure yet. Roughly the remaining 90 acres in the park's master plan isn't owned by the city but could be available in the future, according to Spencer. "Certainly if the demand continues as it is, we would be open to looking at another sizable tract for growth in another part of the city," if that opportunity came about, said Spencer. Some of the latest developments under way: Westar Aerospace & Defense Group Inc. broke ground in February on a two-story, 85,000-square-foot building at Cummings Research Park West that will allow Huntsville operations to be consolidated at a single facility and allow for corporate growth plans. Construction of the $10 million facility, at 890 Explorer Blvd., is expected to be completed in early 2006. Westar is now in the eastern part of the park. Analytical Services Inc. is building a 25,000-square-foot corporate headquarters at 350 Voyager Way to accommodate current and future growth. The building is expected to be operational Oct. 17, and a grand opening is scheduled for early December. Northrop Grumman Corp. plans to break ground on June 27 for the first 250,000-square-foot building in a five-building complex for its 1,200 local employees who are now scattered among 20 sites around town. The $80 million complex is expected to take three to five years to complete. Los Angeles-based O&S Holdings LLC broke ground June 1 at the site of the $210 million, 100-acre World Famous Bridge Street project that will include nearly 500,000 square feet of retail space, a 16-screen theater, a performing arts center, office buildings and the Westin Huntsville Hotel & Residences that will include luxury condominiums. That first phase is scheduled for completion at the end of 2006. The property is on the north side of Old Madison Pike, just west of Research Park Boulevard. The $19 million Columbia High School, now under construction on the western edge of the park, is expected to open in August. Just over a week ago, the Huntsville City Council authorized the mayor to enter into a sales contract with Delta Research Inc., a military defense engineering firm, to buy 13 acres on Explorer Boulevard at Enterprise Way. The company plans to build a 30,000-square-feet building, moving from the 11,000-square-foot building on Wynn Drive on the east side of the park where the company has been for about 17 years. A second 30,000-square-foot building is planned as the company expands. Other major companies are "looking for growth opportunities" at the park, Spencer said, "but we're not at liberty to quote who they are." A city planning subcommittee last week approved an amendment to city zoning laws that would allow companies in Cummings Research Park to provide sleeping quarters for visiting scientists and researchers. A city planner said a biotech research company considering locating in Cummings Research Park is requesting the change, but declined to identify the firm. Meanwhile, the city is moving to make land available in other areas to help bring more companies to Huntsville. Spencer and other city officials held a news conference Friday afternoon to announce a proposal to purchase 145 acres for an expansion of the North Huntsville Industrial Park. "It opens more areas for manufacturing,'' Spencer said. "We have to be diverse and have to offer all kinds of jobs. It's being forward thinking.'' Business Editor Wayne Smith contributed to this report. © 2005 The Huntsville Times © 2005 al.com All Rights Reserved.

A Room to keep growing Cummings Research Park is still where everyone wants be

A Room to keep growing
Cummings Research Park is still where everyone wants be