HARTFORD COUNTY, MD. — Baltimore-based St. John Properties is developing the Government and Technology Enterprise Enhanced Use Leasing project at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, a U.S. Army installation located outside of Aberdeen, Md. The project will initially consist of 150,000 to 200,000 square feet of research and office space in four buildings. The total undertaking could eventually expand to 2 million square feet of research and office space on 413 acres.
Aberdeen Proving Ground, which encompasses 72,000 acres, is currently benefiting from a variety of construction activities. The 2.5 million-square-foot Command, Control, Computer, Communication, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Command facility will deliver in the third quarter of 2011.
The transformation of Aberdeen Proving Ground is precipitated by the government’s Base Realignment and Closure campaign. When the planned construction is complete across the entire compound, an estimated 6,000 government workers will be employed in the development.
Opus East had been originally selected to build the Enhanced Use Leasing facilities, but the company recently assigned the job to St. John. After approval from the army, St. John set to work. The firm is planning many more projects over the 20-year build-out at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
“We view this development as the most significant commercial real estate opportunity in the history of our company,” Edward St. John, president of St. John Properties, says in a statement.
— Jon Ross