"This building is an anchor for the neighborhood," Scott A.Singer, executive vice president of the Singer & BassukOrganization, which provided financing for the project, tellsGlobeSt.com. "It will provide a base for continuing development inthe area." An undisclosed number of MetLife employees will movefrom Manhattan into the new facility.

Phase I was completed last year. The fourth-generationowner/development company Brause purchased the 404,000-sf formerRolls Royce manufacturing facility in 1980. The building thenunderwent a reconstruction throughout the '90s, and in 2001 MetLifemoved into the six-story space, Brause says.

Also on hand for the event were Queens borough president HelenMarshall, state assembly representatives Cathy Nolan and MichaelGianaris, New York City Councilmember Eric Gioia and Long IslandCity Business Development Corp. president Gale Baron.