Designed by Rotwein+Blake, Commvault’s sprawling headquarters in the Tinton Falls section of Fort Monmouth opened in 2015. — File photos/Courtesy: R+B
By Joshua Burd
Inspired by Somerset Development has acquired the Tinton Falls headquarters of cybersecurity firm Commvault, with plans to repurpose the building as a new phase of its landmark Bell Works campus in nearby Holmdel.
The developer on Thursday said it will look to enhance and lease out the 276,900-square-foot property to tenants seeking high-quality, experiential office and retail spaces with extensive amenities and offerings for employees. That means new features such as flexible coworking space and the addition of local restaurants, a Bell Market, a coffee shop, retail spaces and a health club, all of it under the Bell Works brand, capitalizing on a location off Route 36 and within the revitalized Fort Monmouth property.
Commvault, which opened the building in 2015, will remain a prominent tenant and will occupy some 75,000 square feet as part of a leaseback agreement, according to a news release. JLL represented the company in the deal.
“The design of Commvault’s headquarters is a perfect fit for the vision and ethos of the ‘Metroburb’ model we have developed at our highly successful Bell Works New Jersey and Bell Works Chicagoland properties,” said Ralph Zucker, president of Inspired by Somerset Development. “Having already developed in the Fort Monmouth area, acquiring this property to create a more intimate version of Bell Works is a natural next step for us. Since the space was previously closed to the public, we look forward to collaborating with Commvault to reconfigure it, allowing residents of Tinton Falls and surrounding areas to enjoy the building’s extensive offerings, just like its tenants.”
Inspired said the Commvault facility, which was designed by Rotwein+Blake, has open-concept workspaces, conference rooms, fitness center, cafeteria, outdoor spaces, walking paths and recreational areas. Potential updates will draw from the 2 million-square-foot, mixed-use Bell Works complex on Crawfords Corner Road in Holmdel, which the firm has envisioned and developed at the former Bell Labs research campus for close to two decades.
To that end, Inspired will offer a range of office spaces as well as its “Ready-To-Wear” office suites for short- and long-term leasing options, the news release said. It also plans to import its collaborative workspace membership concept known as coLab, among other additions to the Commvault site.
The firm’s Lindsey Florio is overseeing office and retail leasing at the building, with Sean Donohue spearheading requirements at coLab.
“Expanding the coLab brand to Fort Monmouth is an exciting next step for us as we look to diversify the markets in which we offer our high-quality, flexible coworking model,” said Donohue, managing director of coLab. “Spaces of this caliber are often few and far between, especially in more suburban areas, which is why we look forward to entering the market with workplaces designed to inspire creativity and boost productivity.”
The deal comes two years after Commvault announced it would sell and lease back a portion of the property as part of a $40 million deal with a then-undisclosed buyer. That sale fell through, according to the Asbury Park Press, paving the way for the transaction with Zucker’s firm.
“For our employees, being in the office is about more than just workspace; it’s about collaborating in a vibrant professional community,” said Danielle Sheer, chief trust officer at Commvault. “We’re excited to work with Inspired to transform the campus into a central hub that fosters community and connection for both Commvault employees and the broader community.”
Built by Torcon, the $100 million headquarters building represented the first large-scale investment at Fort Monmouth, following the start of the state’s effort to redevelop the 1,127-acre former Army base, which the government closed in 2011. A long list of projects at the property have followed or are in development, most notably Netflix’s nearly $1 billion campus that would span more than 1 million square feet of soundstages and other facilities.
“The Commvault headquarters is a landmark in Monmouth County, having played a significant role in our region’s business landscape,” said Charles Terefenko, borough administrator and director of public safety in Tinton Falls. “We are excited to see this iconic property retain its original purpose as a hub for innovation, now under the stewardship of Inspired by Somerset Development. With their proven track record, we are confident that this building will continue to serve as a vibrant center for both businesses and the community.”
Commvault to sell Fort Monmouth headquarters for $40 million, lease back ‘small footprint’