Highwoods To Develop 50,000-SF BTS for FAA

MOUNTAIN VIEW, GA-Raleigh, NC-based Highwoods Properties Inc. has been awarded a 50,000-sf build-to-suit contract with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop an office building at Tradeport, an industrial and office park. The project carries a $10.2-million price tag.

Under the contract, Highwoods will develop a two-story class A office building on land already owned by the company. Construction will begin in the third quarter and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2008, at which time the FAA will take occupancy.

Tradeport is located on International Parkway, near the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Interstate 75. Highwoods owns 622,000 sf in Tradeport, including three office and five industrial buildings. Highwoods vice president of the Atlanta division Jim Bacchetta tells GlobeSt.com that the FAA selected the location because of its close proximity to the airport. “A first responder group that responds to incidents at the airport will be located in the building so they needed quick access to the airport,” he says.