Garden State Hi-Tech Park retains Barnes Wentworth as tech developer

Real Estate Weekly, July 18, 2001

Garden State Hi-Tech Park, a development group based in Neptune Twp., N.J., has retained Barnes Wentworth, Inc., a technology engineering and development company, for The Garden State Hi-Tech Park, a proposed 4 million SF corporate and technology center.

As technology developer, Barnes Wentworth will design and build the campus's extensive technology infrastructure, serve as advisors on the technological, financial and real estate implications of the advanced technology being installed and provide on-site technology management to tenants.

According to Barnes Wentworth president and CEO Herb Hauser, "Tenants have always expected that the three most important utilities, HVAC, water and power be reliable, abundant and instantly available. Now, there is a fourth utility in the information age - information. But few companies really understand how to manage it. Since information will drive business, especially at a large scale 'city shaper' such as The Garden State Hi-Tech Park, the implementation of the infrastructure to support this fourth utility requires skilled master planning. We are excited about having been selected to be the information infrastructure provider at this very special property."

"Our goal is to attract both hi-tech and low-tech tenants to the property," explained Jerry Richter, partner and director-of marketing, Garden State Hi-Tech Park, LLC. "Therefore, outfitting the Park to accommodate any kind of service, as well as help meet client needs for continuous access to this technology - through the initial leasing period, as well as in years to come - is crucial. With the expertise of Barnes Wentworth managing the installation of 'green' technology at The Garden State Hi-Tech Park, we are confident that the extensive wiring and cabling infrastructure will be available and useful to a succession of tenants in the future."

The Garden State Hi-Tech Park is centrally-located in Neptune Township, adjacent to two major highways, Routes 18 and 66, and is within two miles of the Garden State Parkway and near Interstate 195 and Route 35. The property includes 180 vacant acres in a non-residential area of Neptune, with access from Route 66, Neptune Boulevard and West Bangs Avenue. The property is divided into two parcels, the East and West Parcels, containing 58 and 122 acres, respectively.

Phases I and II of the Park, totaling 843,000 SF, will be comprised of four four-story buildings of approximately 200,000 SF each. Two of the buildings will incorporate four levels of underground parking, and two will offer single-level underground parking structures.

In March, Garden State Hi-Tech Park, LLC, received unanimous approval for final site plans from the Neptune Township Planning Board for Phase I. Site work has already begun with the opening of the road on the easterly portion of the Park, where approximately 1 million of the proposed 4 million SF will be constructed.