SMART Technologies Inc. leases new 260,000 square-foot Kanata facility
Global company combines operations and expands to meet growing demand
OTTAWA, ONTARIO --- July 24, 2006 --- SMART Technologies Inc. announces that construction will begin in August on a purpose-built, 260,000 square-foot assembly and warehousing facility on Palladium Drive in Kanata, Ontario. Now in its 20th year of operation, SMART is expanding the Ottawa facilities to meet increasing global demand for its wide range of education, training and collaboration products including interactive whiteboards, interactive pen displays, digital signage, wireless slates and software. In some form or another, SMART has had assembly facilities in the Ottawa area since 1991. The Palladium Drive facility will bring together SMART’s current assembly facilities and add considerable space to provide for future growth. The move means SMART employees will work in a state-of-the-art environment that includes space for assembly, warehousing, research and development, administration and amenities.
The Ingenium Group has provided an integrated real estate solution for SMART with the involvement of Giffels Management Limited as project developer and owner, Giffels Design-Build Inc. as constructor and Giffels Associates Limited as the process engineering team. Groundbreaking is slated for early August with a scheduled May 2007 occupancy. SMART is also set to expand its world headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. Construction of a new building in Calgary is expected to begin in September 2006 and be completed in winter 2008. SMART is the pioneer of interactive whiteboards and has maintained worldwide market segment leadership since introducing the product in 1991. SMART products are sold in more than 100 countries and the company has the world's broadest selection of interactive whiteboard products, accessories, training and support.
“We are pleased to deliver design, development, construction and logistics solutions for this significant SMART project,” stated Michael LeGresley, President, Giffels Design-Build Inc. and Giffels Management Limited and co-CEO, Ingenium Group Inc. “It’s a perfect example of Giffels ability to team our technical specialties and shared customer service focus through a seamless process that provides a single point of contact – and responsibility – to our clients, no matter what their project needs.”
“As global demand for SMART products continues to grow, we recognized the need for a much larger and purpose-built facility in the Ottawa area,” said Nancy Knowlton, president, co-CEO and co-founder of SMART. “We are committed to bringing Canadian technology and innovation to the world market, and this building will allow us to enhance our Ottawa operations for the benefit of our staff and our customers.”
About Ingenium Group
Giffels Design Build Inc., Giffels Management Limited and Giffels Associates Limited are Ingenium Group companies. A privately held company offering a full range of consulting, design-build and asset management services for industrial, commercial/institutional and infrastructure clients, the Ingenium Group is a truly multicultural, multi-disciplined global business with more than 900 staff in regional offices in Canada, the U.S., Asia, Europe, the Middle East and select international markets.
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Architectural rendering available on request.
For more information, contact
Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
1207 – 11 Avenue SW, Suite 300
Calgary, AB T3C 0M5
CANADA
Phone +1.403.802.2558
Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
www.smarttech.com
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.