The opening of the first office building in the nation’s first technology park on an active military post took place here Thursday afternoon.

The $2 million building in the University of Missouri Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood was developed by the University of Missouri and the Missouri Department of Economic Development with the backing of Fort Leonard Wood. It is jointly financed by the University of Missouri System and the Department of Economic Development through its subsidiary, the Missouri Technology Corporation.

The ceremony was held inside the General Bruce C. Clarke Historical Library in the Maneuver Support Center, due to rainy and stormy weather.

Speakers for the ceremony were Dr. Manuel Pacheco, president of the University of Missouri System; Major Gen. Anders Aadland, commander at Fort Leonard Wood; Dennis Roedemeier, state director of business development; John Mathes, president of the University Board of Curators; Frank Stokes, chairman of the Missouri Technology Corporation; Erwin Morris, chairman of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association, and Dr. John Park, former chancellor of the University of Missouri-Rolla and chairman of the Missouri Life Sciences Research Committee. Rick Finholt, executive director of economic development and research for the University of Missouri, had the opening remarks and gave the introductions.

All the speakers focused on the cooperation and partnership between the University of Missouri, the State of Missouri and the Army.

“This park helps move that partnership one step forward and bodes well for us all,” Major Gen. Aadland said.

Roedemeier noted the technology park will offer opportunities for research in the areas of information technology, advance manufacturing and life sciences to move ahead quickly as it encourages entrepreneurship in a cooperative environment.

After the ribbon was cut at the library, shuttle buses took participants to the new building for tours.

Dr. Robert Michell told the Daily News, “I think it will help us get some business in Rolla, too.” UMR will have an office in the building.

The new office building will be used to house contractors and suppliers who serve the military. It will also provide facilities for other federal, state and local government agencies.

The tenants will not just have separate office suites. They will have a shared office environment.

“This building will set an example for other military bases,” said Angela Lieb, of OffiStart Business Centers, who worked as a consultant on the project. “There may have been incubators near military bases, but this is actually a high-level, professional office environment that is also a shared space.”

Lieb noted that businesses will lease their own individual offices, but share 6,000 square feet of space and services, including a receptionist area, conference room, café and advanced office equipment such as the copiers and fax machines. A T-1 line will provide high speed date links for all tenants.

“Although a company might be taking just a 200-square-foot office, they’re actually getting a tremendous amount of shared space,” Lieb said.

In addition, businesses that want nothing more than a mailing address and a place to plug in a laptop computer when making a sales call to the post can arrange for “virtual office space,” taking advantage of the amenities without actually leasing an office.

Under contract to the University’s Office of Economic Development and Research Parks, the Missouri Enterprise Business Assistance Center conducted a market research study that illustrated the need for office space in the region.

Finholt, who manages the University’s Missouri Research Park in St. Charles County will also manage the University of Missouri Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood.