GMAC Mortgage: A Complex Puzzle.
By Jeanne Lombardo, Marketing Specialist

Over the past year, Meyer Design, Inc. faced the challenge of developing 27 different site plans to assist in resolving an intricate puzzle for GMAC Mortgage, Liberty Property Trust, Jim Carter from CB Richard Ellis and The Fort Washington Expo Center. George Wilson, AIA NCARB, Principal of Meyer Architects, led the design team in persevering through the development of these various site plans to ensure the final solution accommodated the needs of all parties involved.

The Challenge: GMAC Mortgage currently has 2,500 employees working in 5 buildings in Horsham. GMAC decided they needed a building large enough (350,000+ SF) to consolidate all business functions into one location, while also allowing for future growth. Their goals were to increase collaboration among the varying business groups and to relocate to a building within the local vicinity so they could retain employees from the Horsham area.

The Solution: A 450,000 square-foot 12-year lease for GMAC's new headquarters at the Fort Washington Expo Center.

The Meyer Team: George Wilson, AIA NCARB; Dan King, AIA; Phil Burkett, AIA; Eiman Alhassani; Bob Warwick; Matt Albitz and Rebecca Pickens.

The Puzzle Pieces:

CB Richard Ellis
GMAC retained CB Richard Ellis to represent them throughout their building search. Jim Carter of CB Richard Ellis had a solid understanding of the GMAC organization, their spatial needs and the construction process, which made him essential in clearly relaying GMAC's requirements to everyone involved. This ensured all parties were on the same page and thoroughly understood GMAC's objectives throughout the process.

Liberty Property Trust
In Liberty's experience, there were very few 350,000+ buildings available in the Horsham area that could accommodate future growth and expansion. Building from the ground up could take 2 - 3 years to negotiate the final deal, obtain zoning approvals and complete the final design and construction. Since GMAC did not have 2 - 3 years due to their impending lease expiration, Liberty decided to target the Fort Washington Expo Center, which was an obvious solution for GMAC.

Located just 5 miles from the Horsham area, the Expo Center tops out at 850,000 SF and is accessible to the PA turnpike. Liberty contacted the owner the Fort Washington Expo Center, to persuade them to take on GMAC as a tenant.

Meyer Design, Inc.
Liberty contacted Meyer Design and over the course of 1 year, Meyer developed 27 different site plans to find the right solution to accommodate GMAC's requirements.

Meyer Design, Inc
227 East Lancaster Ave. Ardmore, PA 19003
Tel: 610.649.8500 Fax: 610.649.8509 E-Mail: jgould@meyer-associates.com

835 N. Tatnall St. Wimington, DE 19801
Tel: 302.575.1700 Fax: 302.575.1606 E-mail: jgould@meyer-associates.com