The future is bright in Northeast Cincinnati with the completion of the first phase of a major real estate complex.
Digital Futures at 3090 Exploration Ave. was recognized as the commercial development of the year in Cincinnati as part of the 2023 CoStar Impact Awards, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
Owner and developer Terrex Development & Construction completed phase one of the Digital Futures building, and The University of Cincinnati will be its first major tenant after leasing 189,000 square feet of office space. The University of Cincinnati students and researchers will collaborate on digital projects including artificial intelligence, big data, drones, intelligence sensors and human interaction and interfaces. The six-story building features 20 interdisciplinary research labs.
Digital Futures is located in the Cincinnati Innovation District near Interstate 71 and the highway's MLK interchange that acts as a gateway to Cincinnati's Uptown Innovation Corridor. Phase one also includes the development of a 160-room hotel, which at the time of submission had yet to begin construction.
Follow-up development stages will also add between 120,000 square feet and 200,000 square feet of office space, mixed-use retail and residential space and a parking garage.
About the project: Digital Futures is a six-story, 180,000-square-foot office building that was completed in June 2022. It is owned by Terrex Development & Construction and was developed by Terrex with assistance from Messer Construction.
What the judges said: "This project is an innovative development and will make a huge impact to the MLK/I-71/Clifton corridor while also bringing in potentially new industries and talent to the Cincinnati region," said Gueorgui Chikov, vice president of sales and leasing for NAI Bergman.
"The Digital Future Complex is innovative, cutting-edge, and sets the table for the success of the remaining Innovation Corridor," said David Okun, director of real estate development for Al Neyer.
"To see such a large mixed-use development in such a visible location keeps green solutions and innovation at the forefront of their design is transformative for the entire innovation corridor," said Brett Lowery, director of sales and leasing for Coporex.
They made it happen: Peter Horton, principal of Terrex Development & Construction.
