Involta to move to NewBo

Data center company Involta will move into some new digs in Cedar Rapids's New Bohemia district.

Involta will relocate its Cedar Rapids staff from downtown to a 12,800-square-foot office in the Depot, a mixed-use NewBo development on 12th Avenue SE. Its 32 Cedar Rapids employees will move there in January.

Bruce Lehrman, Involta's CEO, said the company has outgrown its existing downtown space, with just 7,000 square feet.

'It allows everybody to have some breathing room and then allows us the ability to continue to grow,” he said of the new office.

Involta spent about $1.9 million to purchase the entire first floor of one building in the Depot, according to the Cedar Rapids Assessor's Office. Involta is the second office tenant in the complex, in addition to Collective Data.

'Everyone is really excited about NewBo. ...

As we continue to attract talent in the area, it's an area where employees want to be,” Lehrman said.

The Depot consists of four buildings, two of which are complete.

Craig Byers, a commercial Realtor with Pivot Real Estate, said a third building should be complete in October or November. The foundation for the fourth and final building will be laid later this year, with completion expected in the second half of 2018.

Formed in 2007, Involta has 181 employees and operates 14 data centers across six states, including one in Marion. It will open its 15th data center in Pennsylvania later this year.

Working in the Depot also will put Lehrman closer to a hub for startup activity, with the Iowa Startup Accelerator across the street. Lehrman is listed as a founding member of the accelerator and was a co-founder of a company that went through its 2016 program.

'There's a lot of gravity around the NewBo area right now for technology companies and entrepreneurial businesses,” Lehrman said. 'We want to continue to be a part of it.”

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