Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, announced Monday it plans to create a new $100 million high-tech center on its Palm Bay campus that will become the centerpiece for some of the company’s most advanced engineering efforts. The planned six-story, 450,000-square-foot center is part of a broader modernization initiative designed to foster engineering innovation, while retaining existing and attracting new highly skilled engineers to the region.
Harris President and CEO Bill Brown made the announcement at a ceremony at the company’s Melbourne headquarters. He was joined by Florida Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos and representatives from U. S. Senator Bill Nelson’s office, Enterprise Florida Inc., the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, Brevard County and the City of Palm Bay.
The high-tech center initiative includes:
- 300 contractor/construction positions expected over 3 years
- 1,200-1,400 employees will be relocated there
- Advanced innovation labs and collaborative work spaces
- Designed for maximum energy efficiency and sustainability
The company has already completed the initial design and approval phase, with construction scheduled to begin in mid-2012 and be completed in 2014.
Harris is one of the largest public companies headquartered in Florida and the largest technology company based in Central Florida. The company has more than 16,000 employees worldwide, including 6,500 employees in Central Florida.
