Check out plans for TEDCO’s new HQ in Downtown Columbia

The office district in Downtown Columbia boasts perks including proximity to three airports, several universities and federal agencies.

TEDCO, which provides support to early-stage tech and life sciences companies, must be drawn to those offerings: Maryland’s technology development corporation last week announced its intent to relocate to Downtown Columbia’s Merriweather District.

Exciting news! TEDCO announced its move to a new office space in Downtown Columbia's Merriweather District, effective Q1 2024. Learn more about the move at https://t.co/OnpQB3sD9B. #maryland #mdtedco #innovation #technology pic.twitter.com/gCJzY5PUGc

— TEDCO (@MDTEDCO) November 10, 2023

The move from its current office location at 7021 Columbia Gateway Drive to the new, smaller one at 10960 Grantchester Way is aimed at reinforcing the company’s role as a hub for innovation within what the org’s leaders hope will be Maryland’s increasingly diverse and inclusive tech and science ecosystem.

In an email to Technical.ly, TEDCO CEO Troy LeMaile-Stovall said the space is a “conducive” space for his team and the broader ecosystem to come together.

“The space doesn’t change what we do. Identify, cultivate, invest & scale early stage tech & life science firms,” he wrote. “It also won’t change our strategic anchors of identifying non-state of MD resources and serving the underserved — racial, gender and  geographic.”

Howard Hughes Holdings, which operates the Merriweather District, is familiar with tech ecosystems, including through a recent event it cohosted for founders and investors based in New York. Might those efforts be duplicated in Downtown  Columbia?

“TEDCO is a great fit for Downtown Columbia’s thriving ecosystem,” said Kristi Smith, president of the Maryland region for Howard Hughes, in a press release. “Downtown Columbia is perfectly positioned to meet the demands of today’s workforce with our city’s convenient location, high-quality office space with walkable amenities, access to top talent and an environment that provides a wonderful quality of life for all. We look forward to collaborating with TEDCO in its mission to bring more innovative companies to life.”

Joining tech companies such as Data Canopy, Advarra and Tenable, TEDCO isn’t the only company that will have made a move to Howard Hughes’ “live-work-play” developments in Columbia. According to the release, the HQ relocation is a “strategic.”

“This move represents more than a change of scenery — it’s a testament to TEDCO’s strategic decision making aimed at enhancing our support for Maryland’s innovation ecosystem,” LeMaile-Stovall said in the release.

Designs for the new space are currently in the finalization stage. In his email, Stovall expressed his vision for the space, aiming for it to be a welcoming environment where TEDCO’s ecosystem partners can easily “walk up and engage” with TEDCO. The goal is to create an area that not only serves its practical purpose but is also enjoyable for colleagues both within and around the new offices.

TEDCO’s new headquarters is set to officially relocate in Q1 2024.