Fast-Tracked Spec Office Building Breaks Ground on West Park Drive

WESTBOROUGH, MA-Work has begun on 900 West Park Drive, a 193,000-sf speculative office building being developed by the Archon Group. The four-story structure will be located in the Westborough Office Park, with a delivery slated for next July.

“Having previously completed most of the site work and with full building permits issued, we are able to deliver this project very quickly,” says William D. Lawson, vice president of development for the Texas-based real estate company. Erection of the steel frame should begin by mid-November as the company attempts to capitalize on the booming MetroWest office market.

Archon has hired Trammell Crow to provide both construction management and leasing services. Trammell Crow principal Mark Clayton maintains that the property will be well-received, calling it among “the next generation of office projects” needed to meet the demands of the modern economy. “The natural setting, easy access and central location, combined with room for expansion, amenities, fiber optics and single ownership of the development, makes the park exceptional for today’s tenant,” says Clayton.

Designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, 900 West Park Drive will feature an exterior of brick, pre-cast and glass, complementing the classic design of the Westborough Office Park. The property is located close to such major thoroughfares as Routes 9 and 495 and Interstate 90.Archon’s decision to move ahead with the project is indicative of the rebound of construction activity in the suburban Boston market. Although demand has been strong for several years, several speculative projects were stopped in their tracks in the summer of 1998 when global economic fears chilled Wall Street’s interest in funding such ventures. Only the skyrocketing office rental rate, which has seen suburban communities such as Westborough soar past $30 per sf, has convinced the lending community to return to the table.