Industry News

Voice of America (VOA) began construction of a new 30,000-sf state-of-the-art multimedia broadcast center designed by Gensler. An observation walkway will allow the public to watch the broadcaster's 175 journalists at work. A visitor center, visitor exhibits, and a retail shop are also included in the project. VOA is working to have the new facility ready to cover the November presidential elections for its foreign audiences.

Cisco Systems Inc., based in San Jose, Calif., anticipates employing 10,000 workers by 2004 at its campus in Research Triangle Park. An announcement is expected in May concerning the development of a new wireless R&D division at the site that may be as large as its Telephony Internet Services Unit, one of the four largest at that location.

Nextel Communications Inc. is retrofitting a 33,359-sf office building at Creekside Business Park in Danville to serve as a data switching center. The $10 million renovation will include installation of extra power supplies, a special system for climate control, back-up generators, and fiber-optic connections. Nextel hopes to have the site operational by summer 2000.

MCI Worldcom Inc. has broken ground on a new $8 million regional Internet network in Newark, Calif. The 216,672-sf, two-building project will be built in two phases by the developer, Buffalo Properties Inc. of Dallas, Texas.

Qwest Communications International Inc. has plans to develop 28 new CyberCenters over the next three years, including one in Austin and one in Dallas. IBM Global Services Inc. will build and supply operational support, as well as become the anchor tenant, at the centers it builds.