Governor Bob McDonnell announced that Intelsat, the world’s leading provider of satellite services, will relocate its U.S. headquarters to the Tysons Corner area of Fairfax County from its current location in Washington, D.C.
Intelsat plans to bring more than 430 employees to the Fairfax County economy when it relocates in mid-2014. Intelsat will lease approximately 188,000 square feet of space in Tysons Tower, a 20-story office building that is being built by Macerich (NYSE: MAC) at Tysons Corner Center, adjacent to the Tysons Corner Metro station. The Metro station is scheduled to open in December 2013. The decision by Intelsat marks the first major announcement of a company that is locating in a building near one of four Metro stations due to open in Tysons on Metro’s Silver Line.
“It gives us great pride to have Fairfax County chosen as the new home for Intelsat’s U.S. headquarters,” said Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). “As Fairfax County emerges as the Washington region’s economic downtown, world-class companies such as Intelsat increasingly are finding this to be an environment conducive to business growth and success.”
Gordon also noted that Intelsat will broaden Fairfax County’s economic base. “Intelsat’s leadership role in the satellite industry gives Fairfax County strength in yet another commercial sector,” he said. “As the Washington region’s business community prepares for reductions in federal procurement, Intelsat, with its rich history of technical leadership and commercial innovation, represents an important diversification of and stabilization for the Fairfax County economy in the future.”
“In selecting a new location for our U.S. headquarters, we sought an environment that reflects the innovative and dynamic nature of our industry,” said Intelsat CEO David McGlade.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in June 2010 approved comprehensive plan changes for Tysons Corner to transform it into a walkable, sustainable, urban center that ultimately will be home to 100,000 residents and 200,000 jobs. The plan focuses development activity around four Metro stations that are scheduled to open in December 2013, and Intelsat is the first major office tenant to announce a new location adjacent to one of those stations. “As Tysons evolves, Intelsat represents the first new major tenant in the area,” Gordon said. “What better way for the implementation of the Tysons plan to be initiated than with this announcement by an industry leader such as Intelsat.”
Tysons Tower will be located at 7900 Tysons One Place. The building is one of three towers that comprise a mixed-use (office, hotel and residential) project. The three towers will be connected by a skywalk bridge plaza, and will be a short walk to the planned Tysons Corner Metro station. Intelsat will occupy the 14th to 20th floors of what will be the tallest building in Tysons Corner, with convenient proximity to the Capital Beltway and Route 123. Intelsat will remain in its current Washington, D.C., location until it moves to Fairfax County.
The FCEDA worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $1.3 million grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Fairfax County with the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment, training and retraining activities.