Pataki Creates Corp. To Make Harriman Campus High-Tech

The newly formed corporation will be chaired by former Albany International Airport CEO John Egan. Other board members on the new entity include a host of civic and business leaders such as Albany mayor Jerry Jennings.

"The transformation of the Harriman Campus will create new investment opportunities and enhance 21st century job development, research, and entrepreneurship throughout the Capital Region and this initiative is a key part of phase II of our high-tech and biotech job-creation agenda," Pataki said. "This bold effort will create millions of sf of new state-of-the-art office, research and development space, attract high quality, high-tech jobs to the campus and further fuel the tremendous excitement being generated in Tech Valley."

The announcement was made during the fourth-annual Tech Valley Summit held at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center here. Pataki added, "The critical job-creation projects we've supported--such as Sematech, Tokyo Electronics and the Center of Excellence in Albany--combined with this new Harriman Campus redevelopment initiative will lead to even greater things for the Capital Region and Tech Valley in the months and years ahead."

The opportunity for high-tech development at the campus comes on the heels of a decision by the state to shift approximately 9,000 state workers currently located in 16 buildings on the W. Averill Harriman State Office Campus to new and renovated office space throughout the Capital Region.

As the state offices are moved, the buildings they vacate will be redeveloped for 1.2 million sf of new class A office space, state officials said. The plan calls for the renovation of 650,000 sf of office space, the construction of 525,000 sf of new space for research and development and 250,000 sf of renovated research and development facilities over a multi-year period, state officials said.

The New York State Department of Transportation is currently moving to 50 Wolf Rd. in Colonie, freeing up the first buildings for redevelopment. A mix of public and private sector investment will be used to develop the campus. Targeted tenants will include biotechnology, software and telecommunications research firms, as well as established technology employers such as large computer or pharmaceutical companies. The corporation will also market the campus to businesses working with technologies associated with the adjacent University at Albany and the Center for Excellence in Nanoelectronics located on the University at Albany campus.