Booz Allen has a new innovation hub in Annapolis Junction

Booz Allen Hamilton opened a 15,000 sq. ft. innovation hub within its offices in Annapolis Junction this week.
The first-floor space, which the consulting giant dubs the Central Maryland iHub, is designed to give employees working in cybersecurity space to work on projects and interact. Along with offering coworking space, the company also plans to hold events in the space like meetups and talks.
Located near the Fort Meade–based National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, the company wants it to be a place for the area’s cybersecurity workers to get talking more to each other. Executives pointed out that they wanted fewer walls so people wouldn’t feel separated.
More big companies are embracing flexible designs in offices, and BAH thinks it can be valuable to bring folks in cybersecurity together.
“The nature of the cybersecurity mission often means that they are often behind closed doors, unable to engage in the conversations and collaboration that can fuel and accelerate their work, professional development, and personal passions,” said Booz Allen Executive Vice President James Allen. “This iHub will help enrich and diversify the experience of cyber professionals at all stages of their career by providing a space to share, grow, and collaborate.”

At least one team will be working in the open office. A Booz Allen team called Dark Labs, which works to thwart cyber attacks before they occur, will be based at the iHub.
It’s one of a number of new spaces coming online in the government-facing area that show the cybersecurity industry is getting interested in creating the kind of environments that spurred startups across tech disciplines.