Highlights:
Local contractors selected to build new six-story, 464,000-square-foot facility.
Center will help to create 300 construction jobs.
Will feature collaborative workspaces, advanced labs and energy-efficient design.
MELBOURNE/PALM BAY, FL, November 27, 2012 — Florida Governor Rick Scott and Harris Corporation President and CEO William Brown joined other state and local dignitaries today for a groundbreaking ceremony signaling the beginning of construction of the new $100 million Harris Technology Center on the company's Palm Bay, Florida campus. The center is expected to be completed in late 2014.
At the ceremony, company officials also announced it has selected local contractors Balfour Beatty Construction of Orlando, W&J Construction Corporation of Rockledge and M.H. Williams Construction Group, Inc. of Melbourne, to build the new 464,000-square-foot center. The six-story complex was designed by Melbourne architects BRPH and is expected to create 300 construction jobs.
"For more than 50 years, the Harris Corporation and the state of Florida have been partners working to create opportunities for Floridians. Today's announcement signals that this partnership will continue to flourish and that this is a tremendous milestone for Florida families," said Governor Rick Scott. "It shows that Florida's business climate is ripe for corporate expansions, which means more jobs for Florida families."
"The new Harris Technology Center represents an important investment in the future growth of our company, and our desire to create world-class working facilities for our employees," Brown said. "For our community and state, it represents our commitment to being here for the long term and continuing to play a key role in the region's economic growth. One aspect of that is a commitment to use local suppliers when possible, and we are very pleased to team with these respected Central Florida construction firms to make our new technology center a reality."
Harris announced last year its plans to build the new facility, which will become the centerpiece for some of the company's most advanced engineering efforts. It is part of an initiative designed to foster engineering innovation, while retaining existing and attracting new highly skilled engineers to the region.
When complete, the center will house 1,200 to 1,400 Harris employees in an advanced work environment designed to encourage collaboration and innovation. The facility also was designed and will be constructed with the goal of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, including maximum energy efficiency and conservation of resources, such consumption of 35-percent less water than a standard building its size. In addition, 75-percent of materials from demolition of a building at the site were diverted from landfills by recycling.
For more about Harris' presence in Florida, visit http://harris.com/pdf/fact_sheets/Harris-Florida.pdf.
About Technology Center Contractors
Balfour Beatty Construction is a global firm with a project portfolio of successfully delivering major Department of Defense and Florida-based corporate headquarters projects, including Office Depot and Burger King's world headquarters.
W&J Construction Corporation was formed in 1965 and has constructed more than 400 projects in the region, including the Bluepoints Marina at Port Canaveral, Harris Corporation Malabar Phase One, and NASA's Center for Space Education and the Launch Complex 39 Operations and Support Building.
M.H. Williams Construction Group, Inc. has built local projects such as the Mercedes Homes Corporate Offices, the Eau Gallie Civic Center, and Health First Corporate Office, all in Melbourne.
About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 125 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5.5 billion of annual revenue and about 15,000 employees — including 6,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at harris.com.
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Contact Information:
Sleighton Meyer
Harris Government Communications Systems
sleighton.meyer@harris.com
321-727-6514
Jim Burke
Harris Corporation
jim.burke@harris.com
321-727-9131