TVA ARCHITECTS SELECTED TO CREATE MASTER PLAN FOR RESEARCH DISTRICT’S BATTELLE-OWNED PROPERTY

Richland, Washington—TVA Architects Inc. of Portland, Ore., has been selected to prepare a master plan for 110 acres of Battelle-owned land in the heart of the Tri-Cities Research District (http://www.scitechpark.org) in north Richland.  The master plan will outline future office buildings, research and clean manufacturing facilities, restaurants and shops, recreational and cultural amenities, landscaping, and will recommend a marketing approach—all designed to attract science and technology companies and jobs to north Richland.  The plan is expected to be finished by August.

 

“The research district is an underutilized asset with plenty of available, low-cost land suitable for biotechnology, clean energy, software, environmental and other technology companies,” said Battelle Executive Vice President for Global Laboratory Operations Jeff Wadsworth.  “The master plan for the Battelle land will help us clearly define how this area could be developed, which is something established and emerging companies have told us they need before they’ll consider locating within the research district.”

 

“The Tri-Cities is competing with hundreds of other communities in the United States to attract technology businesses,” added Gary Spanner, TCRD chairman.  “We have many things to offer prospective technology firms here in the Tri-Cities but they also need to see that we have a vision for this area.  The master plan will help us do that and, ultimately, we believe it will be a critical early step to creating a strong research cluster near Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Washington State University Tri-Cities. 

 

Spanner noted the Battelle-owned land currently is not available for sale or lease, and that any development will be sustainable.  “We need to make sure we satisfy the needs of near-term district tenants such that the needs of future generations aren’t adversely impacted,” he said. 

 

The Tri-Cities Research District was created in 1990 as the Tri-Cities Science & Technology Park and renamed this fall.  It encompasses nearly 1,600 acres and over one-million square feet of business space just west of the Columbia River and south of the Hanford Site in north Richland.  Within its

boundaries is Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which is operated for the Department of Energy by Battelle, and two business incubator centers.  Currently, more than 7,000 people work in about 80 buildings and facilities there.

 

However, the research district’s 400-acre core area—which includes the Battelle-owned parcel—is largely undeveloped and is viewed by many as a prime location for new or established technology firms.  Earlier this year, the AngelouEconomics consulting firm strongly recommended the district focus its resources and activities on this core area.   In addition to Battelle, land within the core is owned by the Port of Benton and Solaris Group LLC, an Oregon-based management company and property developer.    

TVA Architects will also develop a comprehensive master plan for the entire core area that includes the plan they’ll develop for the Battelle-owned property. 

 

The Battelle property is located west of George Washington Way, east of Stevens Drive, south of Battelle Blvd., and north of Fourth and Third Streets.

 

In October, the Tri-Cities Research District  was designated an Innovation Partnership Zone by Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, making it one of 11 areas given access to state funding and resources that otherwise might not be available.  The district has also been chosen as one of the top ten research parks in the United States by World Trade Magazine for two consecutive years.

 

TVA Architects Inc., (http://www.tvaarchitects.com) is an award-winning architectural, planning, and interior design firm located in Portland, Ore.  Established in 1984, TVA has designed world and North American headquarters for Fortune 500 companies such as Nike and Ericsson, and has led corporate branding efforts for firms such as Procter and Gamble.  Recent work includes the LEED Silver Social Security Administration Teleservice Center in Auburn, Washington, the LEED Gold-targeted John Ross Condominium Tower and Park Avenue West Tower in Portland, and co-design of the University of Oregon’s new basketball arena.