Information Technology

The University of Maryland recently launched eDorm—an electronic dormitory in Garrett Hall designed and equipped by Basking Ridge, N.J.-based Avaya (formerly the Enterprise Networks Group of Lucent Technologies) that houses 21 undergraduate students participating in the university’s Hinman Campus Entrepreneurship Opportunities (CEO’s) Program. EDorm gives students in the CEOs Program easy access to communications technologies to build their own businesses, such as desktop videoconferencing, multimedia messaging, high-speed data connections, voice over the Internet, and wireless roaming.

IBM has plans to increase its presence in the telecommunications services field with the building of the Network Innovation Laboratories—three labs where several IBM units will work with other telecom companies to research and test new services: wireless solutions, broadband delivery, Internet telephony and data centers. By March 2001, IBM expects to have built one lab in Raleigh, and one each in France and Asia.

America Online (AOL) has expansion plans in Northern Virginia. Construction was expected to start in late 2000 on a new $555-million technology center in Gainesville, similar to the one AOL has in Manassas. Both are in Prince William County, Va. At the company’s headquarters in Dulles, an $86-million expansion is under way with two new buildings where 1,200 employees will be housed. One of the buildings is nearing completion.

Palm Inc., maker of handheld computing devices, will begin first-phase construction in November on a new $130 million corporate headquarters in North San Jose. Webcor Builders has been selected as general contractor for the mammoth 1.6 million-sf project that will accommodate ten four- to seven-story buildings including a common-use facility and three parking garages. The first phase of construction is expected to cost approximately $50 million.

Celarix Inc. has relocated from its 6,000-sf building in Boston to a new 20,000-sf headquarters in Cambridge designed by Cambridge-based Perry and Radford Architects. Unusual amenities in the building include a "sleeproom" and a "playroom" for employees. Celarix specializes in software and online services for the transportation industry. The new facility was built by Elaine Construction Co. of Newton, Mass.

Planning and Designing is underway for UC Merced, a new 2,000-acre campus located in California. This new $250-million research university will use digital technology to create an educational network for students in the San Joaquin Valley. Completion is scheduled for 2004.

The National Fire and Protection Agency (NFPA) has partnered with Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) to build a set of Consensus Codes--a new set of codes for the built environment. Their goal is to provide safety officials with a new consistent and compatible set of codes by the year 2003. As part of the Consensus Code project NFPA also plans to devise a NFPA Building Code.

Global TeleSystems (GTS) is building a 55,000-sf data center in Loudoun County to service Internet companies. Completion is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2000. Based in McLean, Va., GTS is the U.S. division of the British company.

Dell Computer Corp., based in Round Rock, Texas, is building a 300,000-sf computer manufacturing plant and a 300,000-sf facility for the company's sales and tech support operations at a site near Nashville International Airport. Completion is anticipated in summer 2000.

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.

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.

NBC Internet Inc. (NBCi) will renovate the 80-year-old Standard Oil building for its new headquarters in San Francisco's financial district. The SmithGroup's information-age design features natural sunlight, quickly-reconfigurable mobile furniture, European cooling system, recycled car-tire flooring, translucent, wired cubicle partitions, exposed piping and wiring, operable windows, and a game room. NBCi will move in by year-end to 240,000 sf in the building, occupying 11 floors of the structure.

Echelon Corp., developer of communication equipment, plans to relocate its 175 employees from Palo Alto, Calif., to San Jose in a three-story, 75,000-sf build-to-suit headquarters designed by the San Francisco office of Washington-based Ai and Barry Swenson Builder. Pending approval from the City of San Jose, Swenson will begin construction by June 2000, with occupancy scheduled for July 2001.

Nvidia Corp. will relocate its 350 employees to a new four-building headquarters campus in Santa Clara. The 500,000-sf project consists of four 125,000-sf buildings and a two-level, 550-space parking garage at an estimated cost of $180 million. The first two buildings are scheduled for occupancy by June 2001; the third by July 2001; and the fourth by March 2002. Each building will accommodate 500 people. The developer is Sobrato Development Cos. Nvidia makes 3-D graphic chips for PCs.