Allen ranks 28 percent higher in tech job concentration than the national average and Dallas-Fort Worth has the seventh-largest concentration of high-tech jobs in the U.S., according to the Allen Economic Development Corporation. With that being said, it should come as no surprise that a technology-focused hub is coming to Allen.
The Allen EDC, which assists in company relocations and business expansions in Allen, says the 105,000-square-foot Allen Tech Hub is set to break ground in the next year. The Class A office project will support Dallas-Fort Worth’s rising tech industry, it says.
“Before COVID-19, Allen was already experiencing a surge in interest from technology companies looking for a home—from fin-tech and video game development to cybersecurity,” Dan Bowman, Allen EDC executive director, said in a statement.
Bowman anticipates that Allen will be “an optimal location for creative companies leaving cramped center cities like New York and Chicago.” He points to Allen’s medium-density suburban developments that have walkable amenities and top-rated schools.
The four-story tech hub, which will be built by Heady Investments, is part of the Watters Creek District. The resort-style, mixed-use development in Allen plans a conference center, tenant lounge, fitness center, 25,000-square-foot floor plates, and 90-percent garage-covered parking.
The project is part of the two million square feet of new commercial projects moving forward this summer that the City of Allen has seen, which includes the neighboring 900,000-square-feet One Bethany development, which launched with nearly 100,000 square feet of tenant leases.
Other recent activity includes insurance company Crawford & Co.’s 70,000-square-foot lease and robotics company Billings Productions’ new 50,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing center set to open this fall.
Developer JaRyCo also announced a partnership to develop farmland into a 135-acre mixed-use property called The Farm at Allen. Once complete, it will house around 2 million square feet of office, retail, hotel, dining, and residential space.
The Farm At Allen [Rendering: OMNIPLAN]
The AEDC says Allen’s total technology jobs have grown by 5.9 percent each year for the past three years, which are part of the almost 230,000 high-tech employees and approximately 3,000 tech companies that call North Texas home.
“As more companies discover the Dallas-Fort Worth metro—including its thriving northern suburbs—we expect to see exponential growth and prominence on the national stage in terms of tech innovation,” Bowman said.
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R E A D N E X T
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You’ve found Dallas Innovates’ archive of news briefs from April to June 2021.
