University ready for classes at new Beavercreek site

DeVry University, Clark State Community College, the Advanced Technical Intelligence Center, and Wright State University are all located in that area, off Colonel Glenn Highway and Pentagon Boulevard, on either side of Interstate 675. Robinson said Franklin’s leaders noticed those institutions moving to the area, particularly Clark State, which is one of the Ohio community colleges with which Franklin has an alliance, Robinson said.

“We discovered Pentagon Boulevard from some visits to Clark State,” Robinson said.

The site also brings Franklin closer to Sinclair Community College, Edison Community College as well as Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio’s largest single-site employer, and the many companies serving the base.

“The sweet spot of Beavercreek is actually that it’s located between three of our strongest partners,” Robinson said, referring to Clark, Sinclair and Edison.

Branching off from Columbus isn’t new for Franklin, which is 110 years old. The university started an independent site in Indianapolis three years ago, its first location outside central Ohio. Beavercreek will be its second site outside central Ohio.

The building was built by Beavercreek-based Synergy and Mills Development, which has focused on educational institutions as a key part of its portfolio. The developer also built the Dayton Regional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) School in Kettering and the buildings for Clark and DeVry in Beavercreek, among others.

The university is leasing 7,800 square feet at the building, which is shared with other tenants, including Enterprise Information Management Inc. and CBD Advisors, which is former U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson’s consulting and professional services firm, said Jerad Barnett, Synergy/Mills chief executive. In total, the building is 40,000 square feet.

Synergy/Mills completed the building on spec — without tenants immediately in place — on June 1. Barnett said it makes good sense to have Franklin and other educational institutions finding homes in the area.

“It is one of the fastest growing areas of the state right now,” Barnett said. “Where you have fast growing, high-paying jobs, you’re going to have the educational use.”