No sooner had the announcement been made that BerkleyNet decided to relocate its headquarters to Innovation Park, developers – Buchanan Partners – quickly set to work on making the new 72,500 square-foot facility, a reality. Work on the site began soon thereafter, and, on May 25, 2016, Buchanan Partners held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the commencement of construction.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by representatives from Buchanan Partners, BerkleyNet and Prince William County officials including Brentsville District Supervisor, Jeanine Lawson, Gainesville District Supervisor, Peter Candland and Coles District Supervisor, Martin Nohe.

Due for completion in 2017, the three-story building, which will be called BerkleyNet Center @ Innovation Park, will feature prime Class A office space, with BerkleyNet occupying just over 50,000 square-feet. Strong interest among the business community has already resulted in approximately 8,000 square-feet of the remaining space being pre-leased to Christopher Consultants. With renowned architecture and design firm, MGMA, serving as the base building architect, BerkleyNet Center is anticipated to be an architectural showpiece within Innovation Park that will set the standard for future developments. BerkleyNet’s spaces, designed by M Group Architects in Reston, Virginia, will incorporate ultra-modern finishes; an open workspace environment; a communicating space between the second and third floors to accommodate company-wide meetings; as well as a furnished outdoor patio for gatherings.

“We are extremely pleased at the progress Buchanan Partners and BerkleyNet have made in such a short space of time,” said Corey A. Stewart, Chairman, Prince William Board of County Supervisors. “This has been a ‘good news’ project from inception and another example of the benefits that can accrue when the public and private sectors work together for the good of economic development and the community at large.”

Brentsville District Supervisor, Jeanine Lawson added, “Today’s groundbreaking is another important milestone in the development of Innovation Park. It is part of the ongoing realization of the vision for Innovation Park – a vision that was borne several decades ago. The Park has evolved considerably from the establishment of George Mason University’s lone academic building in 1992 followed by the attraction of its first corporate client, American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in 1998, to what we see before us today – a thriving, university-centered research and corporate park, the only one of its kind in the Washington DC Metro area. Innovation Park is now a veritable economic engine of growth and employment creation that is home to over 30 companies providing well-paying, sustainable jobs for over 2,300 people.”

Colin Dove, Project Manager, Buchanan Partners said “Buchanan Partners is proud to have been selected by BerkleyNet to develop their new headquarters at Innovation Park in Prince William County. This high profile, technology-driven company envisioned a sophisticated new space in a growing market which will complement the George Mason University Science and Technology Campus, Hylton Performing Arts Center, ATCC, and other unique employers in the Park.”

Jim Gilbert, President and Chief Executive Officer of BerkleyNet added, “On the heels of some rapid growth for our team, we began the search for a modern space that people would love to work in. Innovation Park, its amenities and the proximity to the George Mason Science and Technology campus are a great fit for us and the dynamic group of people we employ.

“We’re thrilled that we will continue to call Prince William County home for years to come. The County has done an exceptional job of providing the environment needed to attract technology-focused companies such as ours,” added Gilbert.