Southbridge Associates and SGA complete 1.2 million s/f master plan

Southbridge, MA SGA has completed a master plan for the 1.2 million s/f Southbridge Innovation Center. Southbridge Associates, LLC, an affiliate of Franklin Realty Advisors LLC, is the developer, owner and operator of the Southbridge Innovation Center, which offers a wide variety of building types and spaces, including R&D, office, light manufacturing space, biotechnology, life sciences, high technology, hotel, conference center and other business operations.

The master plan identifies $15 million of improvements throughout the former American Optical campus to open up private land for public use per a mutual understanding with the town of Southbridge and Southbridge Associates.

Charles Norton, owner of Southbridge Innovation Center and manager of Franklin Realty Advisors LLC said, “We are pleased to work with Bill and his team on this exciting master plan. Their creative genius helping us to make this come to fruition is spectacular, for not only the Southbridge Innovation Center, but more importantly, for the town of Southbridge and its residents.” 

The scope of work provides new sidewalks, bike paths, kayak landings, pocket parks, water fountains, gardens, street lighting, walking trails, bike trails, overlooks and pedestrian bridges around and providing access to the Quinebaug Reservoir.

“We’re excited to have completed the master plan for this innovative mixed-use project, and we are now working on the designs of several buildings at the sprawling 150-acre site,” said SGA founding partner Bill Gisness AIA, BSA. “Of the total acreage, between 20 and 30 acres are developable.”