Ground Broken for Germantown Tech Firm’s New Building

Montgomery County and business executives broke ground Wednesday for a new building for a Germantown-based technology firm at Milestone Business Park.

Digital Receiver Technology Inc., a subsidiary of Boeing Co., plans to build a five-story, 162,000-square-foot facility in the office park, officials announced Wednesday.

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett was in Germantown for the ceremony. Afterward, Leggett told Patch that the project would help position Germantown as a hub for high-end technology businesses and would help build a case for the need for projects like the Corridor Cities Transitway, a mass-transit system that would connect Clarksburg to Shady Grove.

“We have now moved from the planning phase to taking action,” Leggett said.

Boeing officials said the 400 employees who currently work at DRT would be transferred to the new building in 2012, during the summer and fall, said spokeswoman Mary McAdam said. The project would create construction jobs but would not immediately create new jobs in technology, said John Hinshaw, vice president and general manager for information solutions with Boeing.

The project will cost $46.1 million, with Multi-Employer Property Trust provided the funds, said McAdam.

Campbell Smith, head of development firm Trammell Crow Co., said Germantown is nicely positioned for development because of its proximity to transportation and the amenities — theaters, schools and shopping — that make it a nice place to live. Trammell Crow was also involved in the developing the nearby Century Technology Campus project.

“I think we can argue that Germantown is one of the most dynamic markets in Montgomery County,” Smith said.

Patch reported Monday that the new facility, at 12410 Milestone Center Drive, is expected to be used primarily for government contract work.

Digital Receiver Technology develops wireless surveillance products, primarily for intelligence operations of the Defense Department and Department of Homeland Security.

The company was acquired by Boeing in December 2008 and now operates within Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems’ Network & Space Systems unit.