Richardson, Texas – Embarking on a new chapter, Austin Circuit Design (ACD), a distinguished design and sourcing company with global reach, has elected to shift its corporate headquarters to Richardson Innovation Quarter (IQ), a hub renowned for being a crucible of pioneering technologies and forward-thinking innovations.
Austin Circuit Design employs 17 people
Now stationed at the 7,600 square-foot expanse on 1850 N. Greenville Ave — also referred to as Campbell Square — the firm, employing 17 dedicated professionals, is nestled among the prime real estate properties of Maverick Commercial Real Estate.
ACD’s prior site in Garland had become constrictive, compelling this strategic relocation, revealed Mark Cottam, the Chief Operating Officer of Austin Circuit Design, in an enlightening discussion with the Dallas Business Journal.
“We were really looking for an environment that suited our type of business,” he said. “We were very aware of the Richardson IQ and the type of firms that were here and the support that both the city of Richardson and the Chamber of Commerce have provided.”
Proximity of University of Texas at Dallas was a major factor for Austin Circuit Design to move in North Texas
The convenient vicinity to the University of Texas at Dallas, celebrated for its robust engineering and design pedagogy, was another compelling influence in ACD’s migration decision, Cottam further said. He mentioned that prior to this, the lack of sufficient space to accommodate their augmenting workforce had been a persisting challenge.
On ACD’s arrival to Richardson IQ, City Manager Don Magner articulated his anticipation, underlining the firm’s innovative prowess and extensive global influence.
“We are very pleased to welcome ACD to the Richardson IQ,” Magner said in a prepared statement. “It joins the many dynamic technology companies, entrepreneurs and researchers that already call The IQ and Richardson home. We look forward to supporting ACD’s future success and novel solutions as they continue to emerge, like so many others, from our burgeoning innovation district.”
In the spirit of fostering this transition, the city of Richardson sponsored ACD’s inaugural year membership in the Chamber of Commerce. Cottam clarified, however, that this was the solitary financial incentive associated with the move. He emphasized that the primary allure for ACD lay in the unparalled support that the city extends, manifested through various networking forums, interactive meetings, and coveted memberships.
Austin Circuit Design offers variety of services including mechanical, industrial, hardware, and software design
ACD, launched initially in Austin in 1985, offers a comprehensive suite of services, encompassing mechanical, industrial, hardware, and software design, along with sourcing and manufacturing solutions. The firm underwent an ownership change in 2015 when Chairman Michael Tieu and CEO Minh Nguyen acquired it before it made its move to Garland.
“We have a sister company by the name of National Circuit Assembly, NCA, and that is a manufacturing facility,” Cottam explained. “They’re what you would call a contract manufacturer. They take the products of the boards that we design and turn them into physical goods.”
Initially, Austin Circuit Design’s (ACD) choice of being co-located with NCA seemed like a logical choice, remarked Mark Cottam, the firm’s Chief Operating Officer. However, he noted, the impressive growth trajectory and the firm’s escalating need for an environment steeped in tech and innovation prompted the move to the more technology-focused district. The move positions ACD for continued growth, innovation and customer satisfaction, he said.
The Richardson Innovation Quarter, covering an expanse of 1,200 acres, proudly stands as a beacon of technological prowess and entrepreneurial dynamism in Texas. Colloquially known as Richardson IQ, this district serves as a thriving habitat to tech giants and telecom behemoths like Argo Data, Digital Realty, Ericsson, Honeywell, id Software, Raytheon, Siemens, and Verizon. It is also a fertile ground for myriad nascent nano and technology enterprises.
Reflecting upon ACD’s current slate of projects, Cottam projected the potential induction of over 10 new employees within the impending year.
“Our plan is very strategic,” he said in the interview with the Business Journal. “It’s based on continuing to work with our existing partner/customers, and to grow the business with them as well as bring on additional partners. We are very active, locally and nationally, working with different customers and bringing new customers on board. So we have a real emphasis on new business development.”
The lease agreement for the current Richardson space stretches over a period of three years, furnished with an option for a subsequent three-year extension, Cottam stated.
In addition to its Richardson base, ACD operates from multiple global touchpoints – Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, San Jose, and markets in Vietnam, China, and Malaysia.
Recently, The California-based real estate firm Hughes Marino confirmed opening an office in Dallas.
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