Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC) began its journey in 1968 as an IBM research and development hub. It pioneered breakthroughs in computing and research, including IBM’s first personal computer and the first smartphone. The campus continues its innovative ecosystem today, as its current landlord, CP Group, has embarked on a remarkable transformation to revitalize the office park as a state-of-the-art innovation hub, fostering the next generation of trailblazers across diverse fields such as life sciences, technology, and creative ventures.
Past Innovations: The Roots of Discovery
Designed by the world-renowned father of Brutalist architecture, Marcel Breuer, BRiC originally housed more than 10,000 IBM employees between 1970 and 1995. It served as the birthplace of groundbreaking innovations, including the first IBM personal computer, the first smartphone, early robotics advancements, and speech-to-text applications, among other achievements. However, the property’s vibrancy waned following IBM’s departure in the early 2000s. When CP Group, the largest office landlord in Florida, acquired BRiC in 2018, its occupancy stood at just 60 percent, primarily leased by back-office services companies such as call and data centers.
Nearly 60 years later, CP Group has revitalized the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the 1.7 million-square-foot campus by transforming it into a pivotal hub for forward-thinking companies spearheading technological advancements.
BRiC Today: A Dynamic Ecosystem of Innovation
Through a strategic master planning exercise, CP Group emphasized the importance of honoring the original structure’s legacy while driving its redevelopment. As the largest singleoffice campus in Florida, the firm set out to make BRiC an all-encompassing workplace ecosystem where ingenuity could thrive and to integrate the campus into the commercial, educational, and social fabric of Boca Raton, transforming it into a community destination.
The once dormant corporate campus is now a bustling communal center, accessible and embraced by the area’s residents and workforce. CP Group’s dedication to fostering public engagement with BRiC extends beyond its physical revitalization—the firm also supports Boca Raton’s artistic and cultural community through on-campus programming and corporate philanthropy. Furthermore, CP Group’s redevelopment strategy prioritizes the expansion of its hospitality and retail offerings, ensuring that employees and residents enjoy modern conveniences directly on-site.
Six years after embarking on this $100 million capital improvement and expansion plan, BRiC is one of the region’s most amenitized and sought-after workplace destinations, attracting leading companies such as Canon, Kroger, and Modernizing Medicine, among others. BRiC currently hosts a workforce of over 5,000 people and accommodates a diverse array of tenants, including 23 national companies.
The campus boasts many technology-centric amenities and versatile spaces that accommodate a range of uses, including:
- Two coffee shops that serve as bookends to the ‘amenity corridor’
- 7,000 square foot fitness club with spin studio and yoga
- BITS, an autonomous grab-and-go store that provides completely contactless service, bringing convenience to office employees
- An onsite wellness center operated by Boca Regional Hospital that provides wellness checks and other medical services to BRiC’s tenants
- A presentation hall with seating for up to 800 attendees anchors BRiC’s event spaces, which collectively offer over 25,000 square
- feet across six versatile areas. With flexible seating and options for indoor and outdoor settings, these spaces cater to an array of events,
- from corporate gatherings to weddings and bar mitzvahs
- A walking art exhibit — coined ‘Art on BRiC Walls’ — enables visitors to take a self-guided tour of installations that line BRiC’s common area corridors, providing a platform for local artists to showcase and sell their work. The exhibit features work from area partners, including Lynn University, Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Boca Raton Museum of Art, and the Palm Beach County Watercolor Society, among others
- CP Group also prioritized preserving the marvels and historic accomplishments of the IBM employees who once inhabited the campus. The company takes pride in showcasing dedicated exhibits featuring memorabilia generously donated by IBM alumni and coined the exhibition History of Tech in Boca Raton
- Miles of walking and biking paths and on-site bike storage to encourage the activity
A Bright Future: The Next Innovation Frontier
BRiC has reached a remarkable 90 percent occupancy, signifying a bright future ahead, which includes ambitious plans to cultivate its culture of ingenuity and entrepreneurship further. Following the City of Boca Raton’s recent approval of a significant rezoning initiative, CP Group is poised to expand its campus offerings by capitalizing on the site’s 130 acres. This expansion will include residential; retail space featuring restaurants, grocery stores, and entertainment; a boutique hotel; a 4,000-seat live concert venue; and several parking garages.
As CP Group ushers in the next phase of BRiC’s evolution, it remains committed to transforming the property into a vibrant destination for business and innovation. By doing so, CP Group aims to enhance Boca Raton’s economic ecosystem while enriching its local community.
