Ben Franklin TechVentures®
Ben Franklin TechVentures is a high-tech workspace and community for early-stage companies. Located on the campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, the 62,000-square-foot facility addresses the growing appetite 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. The building was key to the development of the steel company’s highest-value coated products, which were coveted by automakers, metal building manufacturers, appliance makers, and other businesses around the world. BFTP/NEP reclaimed and renovated this original site of Bethlehem Steel innovation, transforming it into an expanded incubator and post-incubator facility for technology companies.
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Website | www.bftechventures.org |
| Location | Mountaintop Campus, Lehigh University, Bethlehem (directions) |
| Year Started | 1983; moved to larger building in 2007 |
| Examples of Successful Graduates | OraSure IQE Authentix Computer Aid |
| Contact | Wayne Barz, Manager 116 Research Drive Bethlehem, PA 18015 610.758.5421 wbarz@nep.benfranklin.org |
| Tax Benefit Status | Keystone Innovation Zone |
| General Facility Features | |
|---|---|
| Size | 35,000 square feet of rentable space |
| Rentable Sizes | 250 to 1,230 square feet |
| Wet Lab Space | 11,000+ square feet |
| Number of Floors | Three |
| Ceiling Height | 9.5 feet offices, 12 feet labs |
| Typical Rent | $15 per square foot (office); $18 per square foot (lab) |
| Nature of Space | High-tech office and wet lab space |
| Loading Dock | Yes |
| Parking | 100+ spaces |
| Handicappped Accessible | Yes |
| Security | Keyless access entry system with 24 hour video surveillance |
| Shared Tenant Resources | |
|---|---|
| Conference Rooms | Five, with electronic scheduling |
| A/V Equipment | Projector, screen, plasma displays |
| Internet | 20 megabit per second data |
| Phone System | VOIP system |
| High-Speed Copier, Fax | Yes |
| Cable TV | Yes |
| Showers | Yes (both men’s and women’s) |
| Breakroom | Two, with kitchenette |