Written by Carrie Rossenfeld | Read below or at GlobeSt.com
SAN DIEGO—As GlobeSt.com reported in September, Murphy Development has purchased 30.9 acres of improved land in the Scripps Ranch Business Park here from Intel Corp. for the development of one- to three-story corporate-headquarters buildings and research-and-development facilities. The site, to be rebranded Scripps Ranch Technology Park, will use its surrounding natural elements as amenities for potential office tenants. The individual parcels, which are bordered by mature eucalyptus trees and landscape setbacks, offer expansive views that range from the Pacific coastline to the San Diego backcountry. Also, the land is surrounded by a forest, lush landscaping and walking trails; one of the lots backs up onto Evans Pond; and Lake Miramar is nearby. We spoke with Andy Irwin, SVP and director of marketing for Murphy, about the firm’s plans for this development and what will make it unique in the office realm.
GlobeSt.com: What led you to choose this particular site—with its challenges—for this development?
Irwin: At 55 acres, Scripps Ranch Technology Park is the only large parcel site available for development in the mid-city markets of San Diego. The location is spectacular as it sits right in the middle of where San Diego tenants want to locate. With a lot of luck and some fortunate timing, we were able to acquire the site. We are now moving full steam ahead with plans to develop 1 million square feet of state-of-the-art buildings on 31 acres, complemented by 24 acres of open space, parks, fitness trails and an iconic pond. Across the street from our project is Lake Miramar, where an employee can bike around a 5-mile loop or rent a kayak and navigate the lake. The park is just a few short blocks from the I-15 freeway with access by three major interchanges: Carroll Canyon Rd., Miramar/Pomerado Rd. and Mira Mesa Blvd.
GlobeSt.com: Who is your envisioned user/tenant for this property?
Irwin: The one- to three-story corporate headquarters buildings we’re planning to build will incorporate the latest in design and functionality components being used in the marketplace. One thing that sets our site apart is to scale a user from 80,000 square feet up to 1 million square feet. Another component that sets us apart is the topography and forest setting of the site. From the top lot to the bottom lot, there is an elevation change equivalent to a 10-story building. The upper lots have views of the entire central county, with the ocean in the background. The lots are situated amongst a 100-year-old eucalyptus forest. An employee can step out of her office and into the forested trails right behind the building; she can put the bike back in the storage locker and head up to the juice bar located in the panoramic fitness building on top of the parking deck. The amazing natural characteristics of the site, coupled with the plans we have for onsite amenities, will give us the ability to offer corporate tenants a facility that is unparalleled in the marketplace. We will design facilities that incorporate the abundant outdoor elements with state-of-the-art buildings, allowing companies to attract and retain the best talent in the market.
GlobeSt.com: How does this development fit in with the overall change in office development that has taken place over the last several years?
Irwin: We will develop large floor-plate space in a market that has very little of this product available. There are a number of larger tenant requirements that have been in the market with very little supply to meet their needs. Our buildings will be designed for tenant flexibility and scalability. The individual floor heights will be taller than typical to allow for tenants who need to operate tall equipment or want to have an exposed high-ceiling office environment. As office area increases in employee density, we will design for parking requirements greater than 4/1,000 with the ability to add parking-deck area in the future. The buildings will be designed to meet and exceed today’s demanding LEED and sustainability standards including electric vehicle-charging stations, reclaimed water going to all of the landscaping and efficient air conditioning and lighting, among many other elements.
GlobeSt.com: What other opportunities exist for incorporating the site’s natural environment into the development plan?
Irwin: As the site is set within a 100-year-old eucalyptus forest and includes 24 acres of open space and park area, we plan on enhancing these elements to create a full outdoor experience for the occupants of the campus. These outdoor activities include a walk down fitness trails that meander through the campus, a mountain-bike ride continuing onto the neighborhood trails, a kayak on Miramar Lake or a 5-mile job around the lake. For the employee who wants to work outside of the office, there will be outdoor break areas, a deck overlooking the pond, a deck set next to the forest and a large sports park all with wireless access. With our amazing San Diego climate, these outdoor spaces can be utilized year round.
