With a tinted glass and black steel front, the new TekRidge Center stands out from big box spec buildings common in industrial parks.
The large red roof over the lobby atrium adds a focal point and mark of distinction for a building officials of the Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Co. hope will house more than a dozen technology and bioscience related startups. It is a departure from typical light manufacturing and warehousing common in area business parks.
"We are offering cheap space for start-up companies and entrepreneurs who are going to create jobs for the community," said Aaron Whitney, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce facilities manager.
The chamber, which developed the building through SLIBCO at a cost $8.3 million, plans a ribbon-cutting and mixer at the new facility Tuesday.
Scranton architecture firm Hemmler & Camayd designed the 45,349-square-foot building at 26 Alberigi Drive in Jessup. The front of the building has eight office spaces ranging from 424 square feet to 832 square feet. The rear portion makes up the bulk of the building: 30,359 square feet with a floor-to-ceiling glass back wall offering a view from Dunmore to beyond Carbondale. The space can be divided and customized for as many as 10 tenants.
As with most incubator-style buildings, tenants share a common lunchroom and conference room. A furnished lobby offers meeting space separated from the offices by a security door with card access. The building has a small loading dock. Ideally, tenants will be in similar or related industries so they can collaborate.
Tenants in smaller spaces will pay $15 per square foot, which includes all utilities except phone.
The project spent years on the drawing board, conceived before the recession hit in 2008. It re-emerged with a broader focus - technology and life sciences as the Commonwealth Medical College and the Regional Bioscience Initiative offered new opportunities.
"I think we are going to see some biotech here," Mr. Whitney said, noting that SLIBCO's other incubator, the Scranton Enterprise Center, has 19 units and only one vacancy.
The TekRidge Center already has two tenants, which will move in over the next few weeks. Bedrock Technology has moved from Scranton to Peckville and is eager to have a modern home, said Adam Basalyga, an owner of the information technology managed services company specializing in health care facilities.
"This is an impressive building with a modern aesthetic and lots of amenities," he said.
As part of a Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone, occupants of the building will receive an abatement on certain taxes through 2020. Tenants would move out as they grow, usually by three years, but sometimes up to five, Mr. Whitney said.
The U.S. Department of Commerce provided $1 million for the building.
Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com