COLUMBIA, MD — Merritt Construction Services, the construction arm of Merritt Properties, announced that the firm has been chosen to renovate Direct Energy Solar’s (formally known as Astrum Solar) new location in Columbia. The full-service solar provider plans to add 240 new jobs during the next three years to its Maryland headquarters. Thanks to renewable portfolio standards, tax credits and clean energy grants, the solar power industry is booming. To accommodate their expected workforce growth here in Maryland, Direct Energy Solar is expanding from its current 14,400 s/f space at Merritt Properties’ Henkels Lane property in Annapolis Junction to Merritt’s 42,852 s/f Riverwood building in Columbia. Merritt Construction Services will complete the building renovation in preparation for the move.
“Astrum Solar, now called Direct Energy Solar, has been a Merritt customer for several years, and Merritt has been a customer of theirs as well,” said Merritt Properties CEO Scott Dorsey. “We are more than happy to be continuing our partnership with them, and we are certainly excited to assist with their expansion as both a landlord and a general contractor.”
The retrofit will include a complete exterior and interior face-lift. Inside the building, Merritt will be creating an open workspace environment with numerous meeting and huddle rooms throughout, as well as two large training rooms, a mother’s room, a wellness room and a large staff break room. On the exterior, Merritt will be adding dock doors for a new loading area in the warehouse portion of the building. In addition, the roof will be replaced, the store front will be replaced and an entirely new window line will be added to the building.
Merritt Construction Services has begun demolition of the current space and expects the renovations to be completed by June of this year.