High Tech: An exceptionally fine high tech campus with almost 50,000 sq m (500,000 sq ft) of state-of-the art buildings at Ballycoolin Business Park in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, is to be offered for sale on the international market following last September's decision by 3Com to close down its European hub.
Caleb Kyle of Lisney is quoting a guideline price of over €40 million for the complex which includes 30 acres of freehold development land. Future use of the buildings will be dictated by the IDA through its 999-year ground leases. However, Lisney is advising that the likely uses include technical and consulting services, publishing, multi-media, healthcare, construction-related services and logistics management services.
It is the largest industrial complex to come on the market since the 30,657 sq m (330,000 sq ft) Gateway facility at Clonshaugh in north Dublin was offered for sale in October, 2001. Although the original asking price was €25 million, it is understood that it can now be bought for around €15 million.
There are three distinct high quality single-storey warehouse and production buildings in the Orion Campus where 3Com manufactured network equipment. At its peak, staff numbers reached 1,200 but by last September, when the closure was announced, the workforce had dropped to just over half that figure.
The campus was only completed towards the end of 2000 and is in immaculate condition. All three primary buildings are interlinked and are centred around a three-storey office and cafeteria building. The layout will give the next owner the option to break up the buildings and run each of them independently.
All have air conditioning and reinforced concrete floors with anti-static vinyl flooring in the manufacturing areas. As with most high tech industries, the Orion Campus has a sophisticated security system including CCTV coverage both internally and externally.
The warehouse is geared for high volume shipping with no less than 48 loading doors along the side elevations. The first building completed in 1995 has a floor area of 11,760.86 sq m (126,579 sq ft) while the second building dating from 1997 has 19,135 sq m (205,975 sq ft). The third building,which went into use in 2000, has 15,291 sq m (164,603 sq ft).
The campus is located in a highly successful IDA park where the other occupiers include Xerox, IBM and Creative Laboratories.
The 3Com facility is close to the National Aquatic Centre, about five minutes' drive from Blanchardstown Town Centre, 9 km from the city centre and 13 km from Dublin Airport.
