Discovery Ridge Research Park to expand
University of Missouri system officials announced plans Nov. 16 to add to Columbia’s Discovery Ridge Research Park.
Discovery Ridge is one of the UM system’s 10 research parks and commercialization sites.
With the intent of attracting new businesses to Columbia, the expansion will construct a new campus of buildings. The first phase of the project provides lab, office and potential classroom space through the creation of a new 80,000-square foot multi-tenant building.
Officials hope this will stimulate the local economy and create new jobs.
“Businesses today are looking for move-in ready facilities that can provide the environment they are looking for with minimal disruption to their operations,” Director of UM Research Parks Greg Williams said in a UM system news release. “By building a new state-of-the-art facility with dramatic architecture, amenities and sustainability in Mid-Missouri’s premier research park, we hope to attract high-tech businesses that are looking to collaborate with the university and its researchers in Columbia and perhaps its other three campuses.”
Earlier this week, MU released a request to measure respondents’ background, financial standing, experience and ability to make this project come to fruition. After the developer is chosen, MU will lease ground space at the park to the developer. This will give the developer the freedom to finance, design, build, own, operate, market and sub-lease the space to research-focused tenants who are tied to MU.
The buildings are scheduled to be unveiled in early 2012.