The $65 million campus will include a five-story, 120,000-square-foot office building. It will house a $10 million data center and up to 575 employees.
Some 450 workers from Lanham are slated to move into the new building on June 2.
Merkle also bought an adjacent 4-acre parcel where it expects to build a 70,000-square-foot building to accommodate another 350 employees.
Based on Merkle's hiring projections - 93 in 2009, 107 in 2010, 125 in 2011, and 144 in 2012 - it expects to have the second building ready by 2010.
"We believe it'll help us attract better employees and keep employees," said Don Patrick, Merkle's chief operating officer.
Merkle is receiving state incentives, including a $3.3 million loan to help fund the construction and up to $150,000 in grants over three years for work force training, according to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.
Howard County is also providing a tax credit of up to $300,000 over four years, said Richard W. Story, chief executive officer of the Howard County Economic Development Authority.
Since December, a monthly newsletter has informed Merkle employees about the move, covering issues such as public transportation to tidbits about Columbia. The current headquarters is about 26 miles from the new one.
The newsletter also highlights amenities of the new headquarters: wireless access throughout the building, an upgraded phone system and gym, and a plasma television on each floor.
"Our new Columbia headquarters represents the next big step in our evolution," said Kathryn Conway, a Merkle public relations manager.
hanah.cho@baltsun.com
By the numbers
Merkle Inc.
Founded: 1971
Headquarters : Columbia (it is set to move from Lanham in June)
CEO : David Williams, who bought the company 20 years ago
2007 revenue : $180.6 million
Employees : 1,100 nationwide
