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Business & Tech

Tenable Will Locate Headquarters In Downtown Columbia

New office space in Merriweather district will be occupied by a leading cybersecurity firm.

Tenable™ Inc., officials from The Howard Hughes Corporation

® (NYSE: HHC) and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced today that Tenable, one of the fastest growing cybersecurity software companies in the country, will expand its Maryland presence with the development of a new, amenity-rich headquarters in the Merriweather District to accommodate its rapid growth. The selected site is part of the redevelopment of Downtown Columbia, the 391-acre core of Columbia, MD, which is being revitalized by The Howard Hughes Corporation. Tenable’s move will further grow its current local employee base in the area and establish Downtown Columbia as an emerging hub in the rapidly growing cybersecurity industry.

“We are proud to join Downtown Columbia’s new Merriweather District as it continues to grow as a vibrant destination and to reaffirm our long-standing commitment to the State of Maryland that has fostered Tenable’s growth since the very beginning,” said Steve Vintz, Chief Financial Officer of Tenable. “Our move to Downtown Columbia will provide a live-work-play environment for employees, accommodate future growth and allow our company to be part of the area’s exciting transformation.

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Tenable is scheduled to move in the third quarter of 2019 and will occupy approximately 150,000 square feet on the 7th-12th floors of the 12-story, 350,000-square-foot signature office building being built as part of the creation of the first high-density, mixed-use neighborhood in Downtown Columbia. The new building will join One and Two Merriweather, a collection of Class-A, mixed-use office buildings, already located in the Merriweather District. Tenable’s expansion reflects the state’s burgeoning cyber security industry. With its proximity to the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, a built-in, highly-skilled and educated workforce, and a new amenity-rich downtown, Downtown Columbia is emerging as the ideal nexus for the industry. To date, 10 percent of the redevelopment plan is under construction or complete. At full build-out, the Downtown Columbia revitalization will include 14 million square feet of mixed-use development comprised of 4.3 million square feet of commercial office space, 1.25 million square feet of street retail, 6,244 residential units and 640 hotel rooms. The new office building is expected to be completed in 2019.

“We applaud Tenable for expanding its corporate headquarters in the state of Maryland and continuing to drive economic development in the heart of Howard County,” said Governor Hogan. “The redevelopment of Downtown Columbia is a transformative development for our state, creating a true urban core in the heart of the celebrated suburban area, nestled between the city of Baltimore and the Nation’s Capital. As this generation’s leading community developers, The Howard Hughes Corporation is truly realizing the original intent for the country’s first planned community and providing a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We are excited that one of Maryland’s most innovative companies is choosing to grow in such a historically innovative place.”

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“Tenable’s decision to expand its headquarters in Downtown Columbia is another indication of the momentum we have in Howard County," said County Executive Allan H. Kittleman. "Tenable is a vitally important anchor business and source of energy and excitement as we continue to develop a vibrant, urban downtown and ensure that Columbia remains an important economic engine for years to come."

“We are pleased that Tenable, a leading global cybersecurity company, has chosen the Merriweather District in Downtown Columbia to house its expanding world headquarters,” said John DeWolf, Executive Vice President, The Howard Hughes Corporation. “Tenable is an ideal tech-sector anchor that aligns with our innovative vision for Downtown Columbia and our community-centered approach to business. The Merriweather District exemplifies HHC’s vision for Downtown Columbia as a vibrant live-work-play destination with access to unique amenities, great restaurants and an iconic entertainment venue within a beautiful, walkable environment.”

Tenable’s decision to move to Downtown Columbia is the latest announcement surrounding The Howard Hughes Corporation’s redevelopment of Columbia’s 391-acre town center into a burgeoning business district and walkable, urban core. The dynamic transformation of the Merriweather District is emblematic of the many projects across the company’s portfolio, including Hughes Landing in the Texas community of The Woodlands and Downtown Summerlin in Nevada, where development has accelerated to meet market demand for live-work-play environments.

Uniquely situated in an environment of natural beauty with a focus on a mixed-use, urban revitalization, the Merriweather District is set to become a prime example of Columbia founder James Rouse’s vision of “A City in a Garden.”

The district’s revitalization will include 2,300 residences, a 250-room hotel, over 1.5 million square feet of office space, and 314,000 square feet of street retail with a central park. Environmental enhancements, such as reforestation and stream restoration, are already under way.

Targeting LEED Silver certification, the new office tower will provide Tenable with a uniquely customizable space, ideal for tech companies looking for state-of-the-art building systems.

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