Dr. Harris Pastides, president, USC The SCRA USC Innovation Center, a 74,000– square–foot building, opened Thursday, August 19. The facility, designed by Garvin Design Group, provides high–tech and light manufacturing spaces across Assembly Street from the Swearingen Engineering Center. Columbia–based Mashburn Construction was the general contractor. Almost a year ago, the building was an unused liquor warehouse. All told, more than $6.6 million has been invested in the facility.

Part of the Innovista, the center is also part of the USC campus. There is ample space for 10–15 high–tech light manufacturing startups.

The SCRA USC Innovation Center houses central offices for SCRA and Engenuity SC. Later this fall, Greenville–based Immedion will move a data center into the building. Leasing activity is heating up. Marvin Davis, vice president for property and asset management for SCRA, was quoted by

David Dunn, VC3 Columbia Regional Business

Report saying he had been in continuing talks with eight prospective tenants about leasing space in the building.

During the course of the opening ceremonies, Bill Mahoney, CEO of SCRA, explained the new building at 1000 Catawba Street is the second of three world–class facilities. SCRA is providing the facilities in conjunction with its university and civic partners in South Carolina to grow the Knowledge Economy.

SCRA is fulfilling legislative mandates identified in the Innovation Centers Act focused on the commercialization of new discoveries. All three facilities are being funded through SCRA’s retained earnings and balance sheet. There is no burden to the tax payers of South Carolina.

Mahoney further explained that the property is in a key location for an innovation center that provides easy access, visibility and economic opportunity for the citizens of Columbia. “This facility is a knowledgebased technology cornerstone to serve start–up companies with intellectual property coming out of USC as well as the private sector,” Mahoney added.

Dr. Andrew Sorensen, former president, USC Through its SC Launch Program formed in 2006, SCRA has assisted and/or landed more than 230 knowledge–based entities in South Carolina, providing both funding and services to 178 of them. The SC Launch Program has attracted more than $104 million in add–on, private equity investment in South Carolina companies. SCRA operations have made a cumulative economic contribution of more than $13.7 billion to the gross domestic product of South Carolina.

Mahoney presented SCRA Knowledge Economist awards to S.C. State Rep. Joan B. Brady; former Midlands Tech presidents Dr. James L. Hudgens and Dr. Barry W. Russell, and Thomas E. Persons Sr., president and CEO of the S.C. Technology Alliance.

Dr. James L. Hudgens, former president, Midlands Technical College Dr. Andrew Sorensen, former president of USC, and Bob Coble, former mayor of Columbia, were cited and applauded for their vision and leadership that brought together the possibilities apparent in the SCRA USC Innovation Center.
Teresa Wilson, City director of governmental affairs, and Mike Switzer, ETV–Radio SC Business Review
Tom Persons, president, S.C. Technical Alliance
Dr. Barry Russell, former president, Midlands Technical College
Margaret Moore Lamb, USC Information Services, and Charles Bierbauer, dean, College of Mass Communications and Information Studies
Belinda Gergel, Columbia City Council
Bob Coble, former Columbia mayor
Butch Wallace and Congressman Joe Wilson
Neil McLean, managing partner, Sagacious Partners, and Ric Luber, president and CEO, Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism