New building slated for Malta tech park

PHOTOGRAPHER: Stephen Williams

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has entered an agreement for a new building to go up at the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park.

The state authority has signed a lease with Jersen Construction Group of Waterford for the company to build a 90,000-square-foot building that will be leased to energy companies.

“We’ll try to find companies that fit into our clean energy mission,” said Alan Weschler, a NYSERDA spokesman. “The ideal thing is Jersen builds and then goes after tenants with a clean energy component.”

Jersen is paying $550,000 to lease the land for 49 years, and is to erect a LEED-certifiable energy-efficient building by the spring of 2013, he said.

Weschler said no tenants have been identified, but it’s possible companies affiliated with the nearby GlobalFoundries computer chip plant could take space there.

“Obviously, with GlobalFoundries so close, we do expect to go after that,” he said.

Jersen has built “green” energy-efficient buildings in the past, and is one of the main contractors that has worked on the GlobalFoundries factory and administration buildings. GlobalFoundries is now installing its manufacturing equipment, gearing up to start test chip manufacturing. As it gears up, it is expected to attract more support companies to the area.

A Jersen official did not return a call seeking comment Thursday.

Jersen’s building would be the third new building at the STEP park, located on 280 acres.

Already located in the STEP park is an office building whose tenants include GlobalFoundries and a number of small alternative energy companies, as well as Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART classroom building, which includes laboratories for computer chip manufacturing and alternative energy technician training.

Weschler said NYSERDA is also seeking proposals for a commercial services building in the park.