BALTIMORE, MD (January 28, 2013) – Adams Communication & Engineering Technology (ACET) has signed a lease with St. John Properties, Inc. for 26,500 square feet of space at 6190 Guardian Gateway, a new three-story, 75,000 square foot Class “A” office building under construction within The Government and Technology Enterprise (The GATE) project, a 416-acre business community located inside Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) in Harford County. ACET intends to take occupancy of the space upon the building’s completion, scheduled for February 2013. At that time, St. John Properties will have completed ten office and research and development (R&D) buildings within the past three years, totaling more than 625,000 square feet of space.

ACET is a growing company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in information systems, healthcare systems, aerospace, electronics and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. The company’s office space at The GATE serves as headquarters for its Defense Solutions and Software & Systems Divisions, with more than 200 employees internationally and engaged in the areas of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, sensor technologies, security, advanced communications, electronic warfare, signal intelligence, cyber, avionics, training systems, satellite communications, weapon control systems and unmanned technologies. ACET recently announced its award as a prime contractor servicing task orders and projects from government clients through the CECOM’s $7.4 billion ceiling SSES NexGen Unrestricted contract.

“In keeping with our core principles and values guaranteeing unparalleled service to our customers, it became necessary to find strategically-located office space within close proximity to our clients inside The Gate,” stated Charles M. Adams, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of ACET. “St. John Properties shares our vision of listening to and understanding the needs of the customer, and then applying this knowledge and energy to achieve complete client satisfaction.”

“ACET’s decision to move to The GATE continues the trend of organizations that have relocated from competitive business parks and expanded their businesses within The GATE at APG,” stated Matt Holbrook, Regional Partner for St. John Properties, Inc. “We continue to experience strong interest from government contractors and other agencies that want to join the APG community and co-locate with their federal customers. Only The GATE location provides this connection to the APG community.”

6190 Guardian Gateway has been designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED) Silver Certification for environmental sustainability. Features that support this certification include a high-efficiency HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) system, high performance windows, sustainable lavatory fixtures, a white thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing system, significant open space and wetland/forest preserves, drought-tolerant landscaping, and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, carpets and adhesives. In addition, the building has the potential to connect with APG’s exclusive secure IT network and will comply with federal antiterrorism/force protection requirements.

St. John Properties has the capacity to build up to two million square feet of Class “A” multi-story and single-story office space, as well as research and development (R&D) flex/office and retail space at The GATE project. The project is the central location for contractors and agencies that support APG with tenants including The Boeing Company, CACI, General Dynamics, CSC, Raytheon, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Engility, DSCI and Lockheed Martin.

About The GATE

The Government and Technology Enterprise (The GATE) is a 416-acre, state-of-the-art office and technology business park located immediately inside the main entrance to Aberdeen Proving Ground. Over the anticipated 10-year build-out of The GATE project, St. John Properties is developing the park for lease to government sector and non-government users. The Baltimore-based commercial real estate company also has the option to situate future buildings outside or inside the secure perimeter of APG. For more information about The GATE, visit www.thegateapg.com.

About St. John Properties

St. John Properties, Inc., founded in 1971 as MIE Properties, owns and has developed nearly 15 million square feet of R&D/flex, warehouse, office and retail space in Maryland, Colorado, Louisiana, Virginia and Wisconsin. For more information about the company, visit sjp.mu9b0uf9-liquidwebsites.com.

For more information, contact:
Al Cunniff, Director of Marketing, St. John Properties, Inc.
410-369-1277