Ben Franklin TechVentures is a nationally acclaimed high-tech workspace and community for early-stage companies. Located on the Mountaintop campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the 129,000-square-foot facility addresses the growing need for incubator space and affordable wet laboratory facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The facility is uniquely situated to meet the needs of emerging technology-oriented businesses, including the life sciences. Ben Franklin TechVentures brings new life to an historic facility that was once the seat of research and innovation for Bethlehem Steel, one of the most famous industrial companies of the 20th century.

General Information

Websitewww.bftechventures.org
LocationMountaintop Campus, Lehigh University
116 Research Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18017
(Directions)
Year StartedBen Franklin Business Incubator (1983)
Moved to larger building, Ben Franklin TechVentures (2007)
Ben Franklin TechVentures2 expansion opened (2011)
Ben Franklin West Wing expansion opened (2017)
Examples of Successful GraduatesCICLON/Texas Instruments
Computer Aid, Inc.
IQE
OraSure Technologies
Saladax Biomedical
ContactAnthony Durante, Manager
116 Research Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610.758.5240
adurante@nep.benfranklin.org
Tax Benefit StatusPA Keystone Innovation Zone

General Facility Features

Size60,000+ square feet of rentable space
Rentable Sizes 250 to 1,230 square feet
Wet Lab Space11,000+ square feet
Number of Floors Five
Ceiling Height 9.5 feet (offices), 12 feet (labs)
Nature of Space High-tech office and wet lab space
Loading Dock Yes, plus three passenger elevators and one large freight elevator with four-ton capacity
Parking 255 spaces
Handicappped Accessible Yes
Security24-hour keyless access entry system with video surveillance
Energy Conservation LEED Gold certified building with photovoltaic solar panels on roof and state-of-the-art Lutron energy management and light harvesting technologies
University Resources Access to the facilities, equipment, staff and students of Lehigh University

Shared Tenant Resources

Conference Rooms15, with electronic scheduling; access to the Innovation Institute with 10,000+ square feet of conference, technology, and food service space for up to 300 guests
A/V Equipment Projectors, screens, plasma displays throughout building, video teleconferencing
Internet100 MPS with voicemail
Phone System VOIP system
High-Speed Copier, Fax Yes
Cable TV Yes, in conference spaces
Showers Yes (men’s and women’s)
Breakroom Two, with kitchenette and on-site deli restaurant