Construction on tech park could begin next month, officials looking for tenants – Press of Atlantic City

Atlantic Countys efforts to build an aviation industry and create high-paying technology jobs got the boost of a decade this month.

The Atlantic County Improvement Authority last week approved a $17.2 million contract for construction of the first building at the Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park, a concept that struggled to get off the ground since plans were first announced in 2005.

The work, which could begin next month, is hailed by officials and politicians as a way to diversify a largely casino-dependent economy that has struggled as casinos closed and gambling spread to neighboring states.

Im absolutely thrilled, said U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd, praising county officials, the Federal Aviation Administration, Stockton University and everyone involved with the project. Unfortunately, the initial stages of this got tangled up with legal battles and bumps in the road, but this is now a reality.

LoBiondo helped secure more than $3 million in federal grants related to the project. He also helped convince officials from the FAA to lease 55 acres of land adjacent to the William J. Hughes Technical Center as a site for the park.

Originally called the NextGen Aviation Research & Technology Park, the project was plagued by legal issues and alleged fiscal mismanagement.

The effort to build the park was rekindled in the past few years by Stockton University and the county.

Construction of the first building, which is expected to be complete by next spring, is one phase of the project.

But the next phase will be critical finding tenants.

Joe Sheairs, executive director of SARTP, said there has been a lot of interest for years from multibillion-dollar companies because of the parks unique relationship with the FAA.

The problem, however, was the county had nothing but an idea to sell.

We didnt have a building until Friday, Sheairs said. People on the industry side of this who were interested kept saying, show me.

Now, Sheairs is talking to four major companies that are inquiring about leasing space in the building, he said. Potential tenants must use the space for aviation research.

He declined to name the companies because nothing has been signed, he said.

When completed, the three-story building will feature 60,000 square feet of office space, a Federal Aviation Administration laboratory, classrooms, member laboratories and a rooftop lounge.

The building can be modified by any tenant that leases space there. All tenants will have to be approved by the FAA because the building is on FAA land.

The FAA also will be a tenant and occupy 5,000 square feet of laboratory space and 2,000 square feet of office space at the building.

Right now, the first lab is being designed generically with typical lab features such as raised floors, upgraded electrical panels, space for computers and racks that hold them, said Rick Breitenfeldt, a spokesman at the tech center. Since the ground has yet to be broken, modifications can still be made depending on what (or) who exactly occupies that space.

The building will be one of seven, multi-story buildings with more than 400,000 total square feet of research and development space at the park.

All the buildings will include high-speed connectivity to FAA laboratories, data and systems. The campus-like setting is designed to promote collaboration among business, academia and all major research arms of the federal government, according to a statement from the county.

There are no renderings or projected completion dates for the other six buildings.

The first building will be constructed by Hessert Construction Group LLC, of Marlton, Burlington County.

Hessert has completed projects at Stockton, Rutgers University, the Philadelphia Zoo and the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, among others.

As soon as we saw this, we knew it was a project we wanted, said Vic Lombardi, director of operations at Hessert. Were really excited to get started.

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Construction on tech park could begin next month, officials looking for tenants - Press of Atlantic City