The next phase of the Tech Center’s expansion began yesterday with a symbolic beam signing and block party.
With a cleared area and crane as a backdrop, W.M. Jordan Company’s Executive Chairman John Lawson said this phase will be the second of 10 planned buildings. The cost of the entire project is $450 million.
“It will look like a college campus,” he said.
Currently, Tech Center consists of a shopping center, apartment complex and the first office building.
Future plans include a roadway system, landscaping plus bike and walkway paths, Lawson said.
“It will have an amphitheater for live entertainment,” he added.
The primary goal for the research park to provide growth space for current tenants and attract new technology enterprises.
The Newport News native and Virginia Tech graduate compared it to Virginia Tech Corporate Research Park, in Blacksburg, built in 1985. He noted it will have “a different twist.”
Tech Center is situated is next to Jefferson Lab. The proximity opens opportunities for collaboration with Jefferson Lab scientists, he said. There are partnership plans with NASA Langley Research Center, too.
Dr. Brett Malone, president and CEO of the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center and director of the Tech Center, said it will be an engine for economic growth because of the research that will be conducted.
Malone invited start-up companies to be housed there.
“There will be a spirit of entrepreneurship in the buildings,” he said.
Will some of the empty spaces there become occupied? I miss a cafe Rio.. will the somewhat awkward, labyrinthine parking lot flow be corrected?
I agree, I miss Cafe Rio. Can you say why they left Tech Center? Also the parking at Tech Center is a labrynth and all ove the place. Probably looked cute on paper but not so for the drivers. Wish we could see more of a mix of shopping choices instead of only food and a few other types. It needs to be more diverse in for all shoppers. It’s on a very busy corner, so attract more customers.
Agreed. It’s easy to avoid Tech Ctr shopping due to parking maze and it’s not well apportioned sign-wise. I was meeting a friend from VA Beach there for lunch and she said she almost gave up and left. That’s how hard it was to find PF Changs in the rear. A few changes in the design and added signage would help.