Fordham chooses 400 W'chester for new campus

Real Estate Weekly, May 28, 2008

GHP Office Realty announced that the firm has signed a 20-year, full-building lease for 400 Westchester Avenue in West Harrison, New York.

The building is 62,500 s/f and was acquired by a private partnership between the principals of GHP Office Realty and Benerofe Properties in May of 2007.

Fordham University, the country's leading Jesuit University, will use the brand-new, state-of-the-art facility for its Fordham Westchester adult undergraduate education program, which consists of its Graduate School of Business (MBA) Graduate School of Social Services, Graduate School of Education and master's degree program in the School of Education.

Fordham decided to lease the facility after inspecting almost three dozen sites countywide. It chose 400 Westchester due to its central location combined with the campus setting of the facility. Classes will begin at the facility in September of 2008.

An $8 million renovation will provide Fordham Westchester with the latest in green building technology, with academic facilities surround a large central courtyard.

The building is currently undergoing an extensive renovation to provide Fordham University with the latest in green building technologies and the most current learning facilities available. The building will feature 26 newly designed classrooms with such technological features as smart boards, teleconferencing capabilities and brand new seating and learning areas. The building will have faculty and office support space, a library resource center, a dining facility, and both indoor and outdoor meeting areas for student sessions.

There will be no athletic facilities, no campus housing and no large auditorium or meeting rooms.

he architect for the project is Kouzmanoff Bainton of New York and the general contractor is CW Brown of Thornwood, N.Y. Fordham was represented in its lease negotiation by Robert Ocko, Esq., of Harrington, Ocko and Monk LLP of White Plains. GHP Office Realty represented the owners.

County Executive Andy Spano commented, "Fordham University is a great institution. We are very happy they decided to remain and relocate within Westchester County."

"Fordham has been committed to maintaining its historic presence in Westchester. Thus, I am delighted to say we will not only be staying, but raising our visibility in the county," said Joseph M. McShane, president of Fordham.