Defense Contractor Signs for New HQ Building

BEAVERCREEK, OH-A defense contractor has signed a lease at a $20-million new office building here at the Pentagon Park at the Acropolis, being built by Mills-Morgan Development Cos. for the purpose of attracting military-serving firms. El Segundo, CA-based Computer Sciences Corp. is moving about 600 jobs to the new 137,000-sf office building. The $6.6-million lease was signed by the information technology firm to work on the reportedly $628-million Air Force Expeditionary Logistics contract, a commitment to increase the military branch’s weapon system availability, reduce operating costs and improve fighter capabilities, according to state officials.

The Ohio Tax Credit Authority has awarded a 65% tax credit for a seven-year term to the contractor to entice CSC to locate in the state. The value of the tax credit is $5.4 million, and the firm is required to stay at the site for at least 14 years, according to state officials. The building is expected to be complete by September.

Todd Duplain, director of development for Mill-Morgan, says the office market should remain very strong for the next five to seven years. Since the federal Base Realignment and Closure committee decided in 2005 to close a few military bases and move assets to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, nearby Beavercreek and other communities have benefited greatly, he says. “Since the base became a ‘receiver’ site, there are many programs and missions coming to Wright-Patt, along with additional jobs and contracts,” Duplain says.