Groundbreaking ceremony held for $1.5 million office building
At its most recent groundbreaking, the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council announced it would gladly build to suit tenants. Before breaking ground Wednesday for a new $1.5 million two-story office building in the University Technology Park next to Penn State Fayette, Leo Krantz, Fay-Penn chairman, charged the media to “get the word out.
“We have space available to rent,” he said. “You can let the community know that. There is a shortage of available space in the county today, and we get monthly inquiries about office space and available buildings,’ he said. “This is part of Fay-Penn’s overall plan, to meet private industry’s demands.’
Half of the new 14,000-square-foot building was still available at press time. Benatec Inc. is already signed up to lease 7,000 square feet and hopes to be in its new offices in January. Krantz explained Fay-Penn is paying for the building and will use the tenant rental fees as a steady cash stream to continue building more multi-tenant buildings in the park.
Bob Opel, Fay-Penn construction and property manager, said an unnamed potential tenant was due to look over the site Wednesday and discuss leasing the remaining 7,000 square feet.
“We plan to build a second, sister building. If we get calls and interest, we can start it right away,’ Opel said. “This will be a unique building with its own elevator, and the way this is being designed, the same elevator can be used in the sister building.”
The general contractor for the project is Bear Construction of Canonsburg.
Benatec Associates, an engineering firm that specializes in highway construction, was founded in the 1950s and employs about 150 people in offices in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia.
Jim Scheiner, Benatec president, said his firm is “thrilled to be part of Fayette County’s renaissance.’
He added that, “many of our technologies are applied to transportation projects. It’s good for us to be in Fayette County, because we know of several highway projects that are upcoming.’ Benatec is the engineering consultant for part of the Mon/Fayette Expressway, which, Scheiner said, “is in the final design stage now.’
Fayette County Commission Chairman Vince Vicites noted that building multi-tenant structures in the county’s business and industrial parks has paid off: “Fay-Penn has built three so far and they are all occupied.’
Another selling point for the technology park is its location next to Penn State Fayette.
Dr. Gregory Gray, campus CEO, said the college soon will introduce a nanotechnology degree program that will help meet manufacturing needs in the future.
“It’s also a good synergy for the park to be next to us, because its businesses provide internships for our students,’ he said, referring to an association with Advanced Acoustic Concepts, which will also build in the park.
In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police, which moved into their new headquarters in the park, have talked to Penn State officials about using some of the facilities in the campus’ new community center, which is under construction.
“We hope the technology park almost becomes an extension to Fayette Campus,’ Krantz said. “We hope businesses that locate here will look to Penn State for support.”
Anyone interested in more information about Fay-Penn’s multi-tenant buildings can call the agency at 724-437-7913.