Rockville, MD (April 12, 2011) – Scheer Partners is putting its commercial real estate expertise in the life sciences sector to work – outside of the region.
The leading provider of fully integrated commercial real estate services for the health science industry in the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas announces today that the University of Rhode Island (URI) has hired Scheer Partners to provide consulting services to establish and confirm the viability of developing a research and technology park on the University’s north campus that would house science, engineering and technology firms.
Several years ago, URI officials discussed the idea of this research and technology park, but postponed a final decision in light of the economic downturn. Now, the University is revisiting the concept. Scheer Partners Founder and President Robert Scheer is leading the team that will spearhead this consulting project.
Currently, Scheer Partners is conducting a financial analysis and market research, and compiling a list of companies to target for tenancy in the park. It is also working with economic development officials to secure funding at the state and local levels.
As part of its assignment, Scheer Partners has engaged Gaudreau & Associates, Inc. to develop plans for a University of Rhode Island park, which would initially include a 50,000-square-foot building and in total encompass between 200,000 and 300,000 square feet of space on the north part of the URI campus.
Scheer Partners is also tasked with performing an overview of competitive facilities in the area and, when appropriate, will recommend the preliminary selection of engineers, contractors and other vendors that would provide services if the research park is developed.
Another critical task is creating a comprehensive and consistent marketing message that aligns with the university’s goals and future plans for this project, while making it clear to prospective tenants that the research and technology park is an attractive home for local science, engineering and technology companies, along with businesses based in other Northeast states, such as Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
To that end, Scheer Partners will lead the marketing push, develop collateral materials that illustrate the initial building’s specs and overall design of the research park, and then send these materials to prospective tenants. The Rockville-based company will provide to URI a monthly leasing report, produce a bi-monthly e-mail campaign as well as a direct mail campaign, and maintain and update listings on all available commercial real estate Web sites.
“We are delighted that the University of Rhode Island has selected Scheer Partners as a consultant to assess the feasibility of constructing a research and technology park,” Scheer says. “This project is a testament to the experience and knowledge of our team within the life sciences sector. We look forward to forging a strong relationship with URI officials and the greater university community.”
In making the announcement, University President David M. Dooley noted that “continuing to enhance the University’s research agenda, as well as expanding our economic development partnerships, makes such a park a focus for us. URI’s grants and research portfolio exceeded $105 million last year. We have become a major player in economic development throughout our state and our region. At the same time, combining our faculty, staff, and student capabilities with private business projects to enhance the quality of life gets at the core of our mission. University-based research and technology parks across America have proven to be very successful in these and other ways.”
URI Vice President for Research and Economic Development Peter Alfonso added that “We are pleased to be working with such a respected firm as Scheer Partners as we focus on bringing a park to Rhode Island’s flagship university.”
About Scheer Partners
Founded in 1991, Scheer Partners is a full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Rockville, MD. With a focus on the greater Washington and Baltimore regions, Scheer Partners’ fully integrated services include tenant and landlord representation; strategic planning consulting; facilities and construction management; and investment sales, acquisitions and development. While the firm works with clients across all industry types, Scheer Partners is the recognized leader serving the health-care market, with more than 500 successful projects in this sector. Scheer Partners is the operations manager for Montgomery County’s technology incubator program, which has more than 160 tenants, and is co-manager of the Greater Washington Life Sciences Fund. The company’s Web site is www.scheerpartners.com.
About the University of Rhode Island
At the University of Rhode Island, you’ll find some of today’s leading innovators, discoverers, and creative problem solvers. The University is known regionally and worldwide for its big ideas and pioneering research in such areas as air, water, and ground pollution; biotechnology and life sciences; engineering, marine sciences, forensic sciences, pharmaceuticals, the behavioral sciences, and public health promotion. Unique interdisciplinary courses provide its 13,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students with cutting-edge experiences. Collaborations across the institution afford students and faculty opportunities to engage in real-life problem-solving initiatives with like-minded partners who can help bring them to life. This past year, the University received more than $105 million in federal and private funding that supports the highest levels of research in dozens of disciplines. Beautiful, tree-lined, and quiet, URI is quintessential New England. Six miles from Rhode Island’s coastal beaches, the main campus in rural Kingston is conveniently located between Boston and New York.
For more information please contact:
Neil Adler of D*MNGOOD®
202-683-8975 (office)
410-499-5004 (cell)
neil.adler@dmngood.com
