Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Morlok Development Group
Morlok Development Group
Morlok Development Group
Development
Group
Fall 1989
INTRODUCTION
Penn State has embarked on a positive-sum program to assist in the economic revitalization
of the commonwealth and to broaden the resources available to the University through a
partnership with government and the public and private sectors. The de velopment of a
research parti at Penn State is one element of this program and a logical extension of the
University's historic pattern of participation in economic development.
In recognition of the public/private nature of the research park and in funheranée of the
University's commitment to a positive-sum approach, this business plan adheres to the
goals, objectives and conditions for development formulated by the Penn State Ecoijpmic
Development Advisory Committee of area business, education. student and government
leaders. Those goals, objectives and conditions are:
• Protect the Centre Re grem's pli›'sical arid naiui‘al ein›ironitient, est›eciall› irifle i-espiecI
to water . land. air, anJ open spiace.
• Ensui e compulibilirr and con)ormaii‹’e n'itIi local government land-ii.se fiiIuni1iit¿,
rezulai ions and zoninz, arid flue reLion s evolvine infra.'urucIure.
• Preserve those qualii ie s oJ I(fc c Mirrentl5 valued bx' area reside nts iJini » ilf ‹’oniinue
io atiru‹ t fuiure ‹'itizen.s supportive of the Centre Re yion comment .
• Provide inc'rrused emplovmem u‹ ross a full raii ge of opportunities cmml job .skill.s .
• Ensure ‹’ompat ihilit x ii›iili the yon1s and objecti ves of'siatr, re(ii›i ia1, ynâ lc ‹ ul
e‹ orit›niir' devrf opment itiiliaIive.\.
• lmyi oi'e I for oyyortunitie.s |'or yrii›ate set tor initiatii es llirotidli a /›r›sii/i ‹›-.suiii
ayyroar/i /r› last J Jeveloymriit Hint fosters rooperai ion air J Jist’‹ ura"‹ :’ uitfaii-
‹ omyetii ioii.
• Establish destin yuiilrlit1e.s’ and st‹iitdards Hut ensure ileai loitd Jr›› r l‹(:nut ii I aiiJ
ti.sc› will be aesIhetit'all x pleasin g anal compatible u'itli the e. i.stin y ‹airq›ii.s anâ
.surroiiii Jin y area.
• Pro vide itartc ill resourc'es for the Qtr ix›ers ip''s missions ih rrnigij etti'r ii 'e rime r,/ ii.i
pas.tive land o.rxe/s.
Penn State's Positive Sum
Program
Penn State ıx ill ıv'ork lo yı-‹ vide
r/JviJerv sert'i‹ es /o y r? veı-Jııııe,ır fu
ııssist in formu latin g «rr/iın pıl-e
ınentign ne ‹'essar x' yıtb lit p elin
ie’,s
«nd proEmrine tr?of’ .stete- ‹ 'onnıni‹ ’
, rowth, jobc ı‘eationı, ıuıinI e un ‹ıte
of an uae inf raısr ıı‹ tıt rea, ı ıd
adqe t
p reservation and restorati ‹›ıı o]’
t •ııvirı›ıımentnl q ualivt .
Penn Staten ill consiâ er t1le ot-Jet-1x
‹ ıı1d ‹ı‹ rej uIl\’p larmed use ‹› )'
Universi j' lands]or theı fevrloı-p
ıneın of re.sear‹h- ando] j‹ie p orks.
lwsıi ıess iı ırubaıorsa, ‹ x›ııf'erıeı‹
e ı enter. et t’. Sue’/‹ı l evrloyı ııld
nentsc o'
o‹’ ntribute sil ı'ti fc aııı/v ırJ //te ı«.t
ha.se r›} //tr cfÎ fe’t ted rr›/ıtmurifies nuh
c ı'eate jobs inu ın‹ uuıı-e I hıct will nr›
r ı'tıvolve inapprop riate ‹ oınp eıitişe
u'it/ı the peri vate see-Ior.
Penn State will further p ro vdie
and promoteu busines-s sıe ısıi ive
environme nt within thy Univer$ it
x• ı vhic'h]aciliıates acc eseaı y: f
su-y fıoır ive relıa ionships berween
the academic unJ the industrial
c o m-
ınuni/ies. Thisiı -ıt ludesı nonıi orıiı g
Penn State’.x contractual p olir
ies ı mJ patenı and licensiıı g
policies
.ın that faculy m emhersa etive in
such areas havr adequate fle.xibilit
und apy rp riate support and
a
eı ırou ragement.
Penn State coulJ undeır ake ventura
‹Ntdeq uryi investments to p romote
theap propriate kinJoJ development.
A c/ivıi ise would in‹’lude the supporı
oJ seed capital invesıments, i-n
t'ubator facilities, andv arious
kinds of research and Jeve/opment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH PARK
The Penn State Research Park will be a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented campus located on
the site identified as the 322 Bypass Site (see Figure 1) in the report. in› esrigotion of
Land Development Opportunities al Penn State, Uiiiversin' Park Campus.
Because of their often cited success in rejuvenating local and state economies and
boost- ing the reputation and resource base of Universities. research parks, and in
particular University-affiliated research parks, have gained sis•ificantattention from
government. business and academic leaders. What is not well-known, however, is that
there are also many research parks that have failed. Two factors that repeatedly distinguish
the successes from the failures are the research strength of the sponsoring institution and
the lscation of theresearch park.
Resource-Building Phase
During ‘ resource-building, ’ the During this phase. the research park
University wiI1 institute programs and will be marketed on a national basis in
policies that tacit itate the transfer of a highIy targeted tashitin to ctimpanies
technology from academia to industry that would be Iikely to benet it from a
through the newly formed Office of location in the Centre County reuion
Technology Transter. This of fice has next to Penn State. A major focus
nItenâ reviewed and is revising the during this phase will be to market to
University ’s patent policies. contaict companies already located in the State
of interest rules and corporate officer and M id Atlantic region, in recognition
policies so they are ctinsistent with other that these tenants rcpresent the most
universities endaged in entrepreneurial Iikely market while the park is
relationships with industry. Coordination building a critical mass.
with the academic and local An added foCus will be placed on
community will also continue during marketing to start-up and early-stage
this phase. and a .survey to determine ventures. Given proper enppon. these
corporate interest in the research park homegrown companies can be expected
is underway. to remain in the Centre Recion and
contribute to its growth as a vital pan of
Critical-Mass Building Phase the know ledge-based economy. Faculty
and local industry entrepreneurs have
The second phase of development is already generated spin-otf companies tw‹›
the “critical-mass building’ ’ phase. and three generations deep in Centre
While re tional infrastructure County.
improvements continue. the
University will establish evidence of
activity on the research park site by Name-Building Phase
leading of I development with
Once a critical mass at facilities is
Iacilities that are synergistic with industry constructed and regional infrastructure
and already programmed for develop- improvements are in place or substan-
ment by Penn State. These facilities tially underway, the research park will
will include a conference facility and be aggressively marketed to nationally
hotel, University-sponsored and internationally renowned research
interdisciplinary research centers, and a corporations. This “name-building”
technology center that will include a phase is the third phase of the marketing
business incubator
program, Attracting a nationally or inter-
and University offices. Locating these
nationally recognized name to the park
facilities in the park during its early years
will further enhance its name recognition
will distinguish the park from its peers
and help attract other prominent
and increase its visibility and market-
tenants to the research park.
ability to industry.
8
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Construction of the research park will parallel the three phases of the marketing plan (see
Table 1). The parceling of the 130-acre site is designed so that each phase represents a
complète project in both np9earance and financial viabilité. Construction of infrastructure
will be limited to roads and utilities necessary to support buildings constructed in each
phase. This approach gives the University the flexibilité to respond to adverse econornic
conditions by discontinuing development of the park at thë end of any phase or partial
phase.
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00
Marketing Phases
Resource Building
Critical Mass
Name Building
Construction Phases
Phase A
Phase B
Phase
C
Figure 3
Phase A-2
Phase A-1 Gross SF Acres
PSU Conference Facility (C) 112,000 8.09
PSU R&D Laboratory (L) 100,000 7.23
Subtotal 212,000 15.32
Phase A-2
Commercial R&D Laboratories 228,000 19.55
(R&D)
Grand Total 606,000 46.87
10
Figure 4
Phase B
Table 3
Construction Start Schedule
Building Gross Square Feet:
All Phases
Phase A Phase B Rhase C
A-1 ”A-2 B•1 B-2 C-1 C-2 C-3
Project Component 1991 1892 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Total
PSU Conference Facility (C) 112,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 56,000 0 0 168,000
PSU R&D Laboratory (L) 100,000 0 0 0 0 40,000 40,000 40,000 0 0 220,000
Technology Center (T) 66,000 0 0 0 0 30,000 0 0 0 0 96,000
Hotel (H) 100,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 100,000 0 0 200,000
Commercial R&D Laboratories 0 57,000 57,000 0 114,000 99,000 99,000 86,000 50,000 213,000 775,000
(R&D)
Retail (R) 0 0 0 0 0 10,000 10,000 15,000 10,000 0 45,000
Total Square Feet 378,000 57,000 57,000 0 JJ 4,000 179,000 149,000 297,000 60,000 213,000 1,504,000
Tota! SF per Phase 606,000 328,000 570,000
Acres under Construction 27.32 7.30 4.08 0.00 8.17 23.09 17.15 20.33 4.30 1B.26 130.00
Total Acres per Phase 46.B7 40.24 42.89
|
Figure S
Phase C
l?
BUSINESS STRUCTURE
Penn State will make land available as it is needed for the development of each phase
through long-term land leases to developers selected by the University. At the expiration of
the leases, the land and all improvements will revert to the University.
The management of the research park will be carried out by a corporation wholly owned
by the Corporation for Penn State, known as Research Park Management Corporation
(RPMCo).. RPMCo will establish guidelines to ensure that the research park complements .
the mission of the University and enhances the interests of the local community. including
the local Industrial Development Corporation and the state. RPMCo will coordinate
all marketing activities and will have ultimate responsibility for all development
activities undertaken within the park.
RPMCo will retain Morlok Development Group under a services agreement to perform
the daily development activities to be undertaken with respect to the research park. Under
the control of RPMCo, Morton Development Group will obtain permitting for the
entire tract, will consult with RPMCo in the marketing of the park and will provide
assistance in obtaining the financing necessary for construction of the park.
Once permitting is obtained, Penn State will lease parcels to developers to install
infrastructure and construct buildings.
Phase A-1 Activities Future Activities
Phase A-1 of the park will be leased to If development proceeds beyond
Morlok Development Group, who will Phase A-1, subsequent phases may be
develop the conference facility and leased by Penn State to either Morlok
interdisciplinary research center for the
Development Group or other private
University on a turnkey basis. Upon
developers to finance, build and
completion, both facilities will be
manage build-to-suit R&D offices and
transferred to Penn State for its use and
University buildings on terms to be
occupancy.
negotiated at that time. All such
Also during Phase A-I, Morlok
development will conform to the
Development Group and Penn State
guidelines established by RPMCo.
will form an entity to develop the hotel,
which will be financed substantially by
private investors and managed by a
nationally recognized hotel operator.
The size of the hotel has initially been
set at 150 rooms, which will
accommodate approximately one-third
of the room nights expected
to be generated by the University's ex-
panded conference facility. The balance
ot the room nights will be accommodated
by the Nittany Lion Inn and area private-
sector hotels.
For the Technology Center, which
includes the business incubator,
Morlok Development Group will obtain
constmc- tion financing and develop
the building.
It is anticipated that the
University and/or other public
sources will pur- chase the
building.
14
FINANCIAL DATA
Financing
Financing for Phase A- 1 of the research park is expected to come from se›'eraI different
sources. Construction period financing generally will be obtained through conventional
lenders. Permanent financing options will vary according to the ultimate end user of the
building. Special purpose funding from the state will be solicited to finance or secure early
infrastructure debt and off-site improvements. such as roads and utilities. For University
facilities. permanent financing is expected to be secured through tax-free bonds issued by
the University or an affiliated entity. The University has identified revenue sources which
will service the debt over the life of the bond issue while not diverting funds from University
programs,
The Technology Center will look to several financing sources. including the Pennsylvania
Industrial Development Authority, the Commonwealth’s Ben Franklin Partnership Fund s
Small Business Incubator Program, and low interest loan.s and grants from the local
community.
Financing for the hotel may be organized through a limited partnership syndication
of equity which could include alumni and local investors and debt from conventional
financing. Penn State will enable financing of the hotel through a minimum guarantee of
room ni•hts from the conference center. In return. the hotel developer u'ill pay a conference
center fee to Penn State for the room night guarantee.
Permanent financing for subsequent phases will be obtained by capitalizing ongoing land
lease payments from tenants to retire construction period debt.
Project Costs
Project costs include all direct and indirect University faci lit ies will be
coasts necessary to construct infrastruc- constructed at cost on a turnkey approac h .
ture and buildings, as well as intere.st tin with prot'its to Morlok Development Group
construction period debt. Direct ctist.s limited to normal development tees.
include all “hard costs' ’ of construction Nonuni versity tenants will pay Penn State
such as labor, materials, overhead and a land rent equal to 10 percent of the tair
expenses. Indirect costs include all “sol't market value ot its raw land. The hotel is
ctists, such as insurance, professional pr‹ajccted to prtivide a market rate return
and financing fees. project administra- Its in ves tors.
tion. surveys, appraisals. permits and
marketing. An allowance is also in-
cluded f‹›r propeny taxes on the t‹›r-prutJt Table 4
p‹›rtion cf the project. Project Cost:
Fur Phase A- I , prcjec t costs are Phase A
estimated to be $60. 45 million. which Icost in millions)
includes $36. 54 million for Penn State s
conference facility and interdisciplinary
research center Isee Table 4). Phase A-2 infra Bldg Tota!
Phase A-1 Cost Cost Cost
project costs equal $59. 70 million, tc*ze
PSU Conference 0.95 18.00 18.95
total of $ 120. 15 million at the end of Facijify PSU RED 0.85 16.74 17.59
Phase A. Costs for Phases B and C are Laboratory
$82.33 million and $ 158. 45 million Subtotal $1.B0 $34.74 $36.54
respectiveIy. Project costs for Phases A Technology Center 0.56 5.61 6.17
through C equal $360.93 million (see Subtota) $2.36 $40.35 $42.7\
Table 5).
Hotel 1.33 16.41 17.74
Tta $3.69 556.76 $60.45
Cash Flows
Phase A-2
A comprehensive financial model was
Commercial R&D Laboratories 3.01 56.69 59.70
constructed to test the financial feasibility
of the research park. This model only Grand Total 56.70 , 8113.45, $120.15
includes texenues from land rent: it does
not show any revenues from buildings.
The model estimates land-lease payments Table 5
to the University, project costs. Pro,ject Cost:
financial and interest expenses, and All Phases
escalation. (cost in millions)
Revenues from land rent were established
on a cost basis and checked against
area comparables. The proforma
predicts positive cash flows at the
completion of PhaseA- 1, and positive
cash flows at the conclusion of the
subsequent three major phases.
Phase A Phase B Phase G Total
Infrastructure 6.70 4,45 5.17 16.32
Buildings 113.45 7788 153.28 344.61
Total $120.15 $82.33 $1ss.<s s3so.gz
1.6
CONCLUSIONS
This Business Plan is the abridped version of an extensive study of the financial
feasibility of developing a research park at Penn State. The study was conducted by a team
comprised of principals from Morlok Development Group and senior University
administrators.
The teams' conclusion is that a Penn State research park is not only financially viable,
but is highly desirable because of the opportunity it presents for furthering the teaching,
research and service missions of the University, and for invigorating the economic health
of the Centre Region and the state. Although all the benefits ot the research park will take
time to be realized, they are expected to be substantial over the long term.