Spaulding & Slye principal Richard W. Reynolds, who will oversee the project, says it underscores his company's full-service capabilities. Spaulding & Slye not only retained the equity to help Freeman buy out his partners for the site, it also secured debt financing, prepared the project budget and will serve as general contractor. The firm will also be involved in leasing and managing what will be known as Four Van de Graaff Dr.

"It's seamless," Reynolds says of his company's involvement, one that he feels will help cut the development timetable to less than a year. "You don't have to conduct business with five different companies--it's all under one roof."

Spaulding & Slye is taking that hands-on approach one step further, in that the firm will also lease a portion of the building itself. While some sources have said the company may ultimately take up to 65,000 sf, Reynolds says the final figure will depend largely on how strong activity is from other tenants. With Burlington one of Route 128's most popular destinations, and with single-digit suburban vacancy rates, Reynolds predicts the building will attract solid interest. Rental rates are projected to be in the mid-$40 per sf range.