OverDrive announced that it has begun construction of its world headquarters and “Blue Sky Campus” in Garfield Heights, Ohio.
For more information visit: www.overdrive.com
Unedited press release follows:
OverDrive Breaks Ground for World Headquarters and Tech Campus in N.E. Ohio
Digital Distributor Developing Technology Service Center for Global eBook and Media Customers
CLEVELAND, OH–(Mar 7, 2012) – Leading eBook distributor OverDrive announced today it has begun construction of its world headquarters and “Blue Sky Campus” in Garfield Heights, Ohio, in the Greater Cleveland Area. As a result of domestic and international growth in the eBook industry, OverDrive is developing a 95,000-square-foot facility on a 12-acre tech campus to accommodate more than 300 employees.
- Artist’s rendering of OverDrive’s Blue Sky Campus, currently under construction in Garfield Heights, Ohio.
“OverDrive’s new tech campus will help accelerate the adoption of eBooks, audiobooks, music and video currently served through our 18,000 school, library and retail channel partners,” said Lori Soukup, OverDrive’s Chief Operating Officer, who is leading the campus development project. “We are proud to enable the world’s leading authors, publishers and studios to reach hundreds of millions of readers in 27 countries.”
The world headquarters announcement comes at a time when the 25-year-old digital distribution enterprise is experiencing many milestones. OverDrive has facilitated over 80 million digital library book checkouts and offers more than 700,000 titles in its in-copyright digital catalog, which includes titles in over 50 languages.
OverDrive’s new “green” Blue Sky Campus will include over five acres of open space dedicated to outdoor use, including extended outdoor meeting space, a small pond and a 0.3-mile walking path. The LEED-certified headquarters will include two indoor basketball courts, a fitness and wellness area, and digital test labs and training centers for the school and library training sessions the company hosts year-round. OverDrive is developing its new campus with the support of local, county and state agencies. Premier Development Partners serves as lead construction manager, Davis Smith Certo Architects, Inc. is providing exterior architectural design services and Vocon, Inc. is providing interior design services.
OverDrive software apps and services are in use by readers, students, and business users worldwide — including patrons of Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cleveland Public Library and Akron-Summit County Public Library. To see if your school or library offers eBooks and other media from OverDrive, please visit http://search.overdrive.com.
- Groundbreaking ceremony at OverDrive’s Blue Sky Campus in Garfield Heights, Ohio. (left to right) OverDrive Director of Marketing David Burleigh, General Counsel Erica Lazzaro, COO Lori Soukup, CEO Steve Potash and VP of Sales Claudia Weissman joined Garfield Heights Mayor Vic Collova, Garfield Heights Economic Development Director Noreen Kuban and Premier Development Partners President Spencer Pisczak.
About OverDrive
OverDrive is a leading multichannel digital distributor of eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video. We deliver secure management, DRM protection, and download fulfillment services for hundreds of publishers and thousands of libraries, schools, and retailers, serving millions of end users. OverDrive has been named to the EContent 100 as a company that matters most in the digital content industry. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, OH. www.overdrive.com