Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that Intelsat, the world’s leading provider of satellite services, plans to move its U.S. headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Fairfax County. Upon relocating in mid-2014, Intelsat will move at least 430 employees to Virginia.
Intelsat will lease approximately 188,000 square feet of space in Tysons Tower, a 20-story, state-of-the-art office building that is being built by Macerich (NYSE:MAC) at Tysons Corner Center.
Tysons Tower will be located at 7900 Tysons One Place in McLean, Virginia. 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 beltway and Route 123. Intelsat will remain in its current Washington D.C. location until it moves to Fairfax County.
“Adding an industry leader such as Intelsat, with its rich and storied history, to the roster of companies doing business in Virginia is a testament to the strong business climate that we are focused on continually improving,” said Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. “I welcome Intelsat to Virginia, and am confident they will be a great corporate citizen and partner.”
“Intelsat is in good company relocating its U.S. headquarters to Virginia,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “The Commonwealth has the highest percentage of high-technology workers in the country and ranks fourth in total high-technology employment. The large, well-educated labor pool will provide the company with a qualified workforce, and the site in Fairfax County, located near the new Silver Line Metro, is a great fit for Intelsat’s needs.”
“In selecting a new location, we sought an environment that reflects the innovative and dynamic nature of our industry,” said Intelsat CEO David McGlade. “Given our highly skilled workforce and global presence, our requirements warranted a modern and collaborative workspace with access to well-educated professionals, a first-class transportation system and compelling amenities. I want to thank Governor Bob McDonnell, our partners at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority in welcoming Intelsat to Tysons Corner, where we will continue to build on our mission of providing critical communications infrastructure throughout the world.”
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority 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.
“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). “At a time when government contracting and some other industry segments have slowed, we are delighted to diversify our economy further, especially with such a widely renowned and highly respected company as Intelsat.”
