Plano is one step closer to becoming the next Silicon Valley.

Legacy Central, a $300M mixed-use project built on the site of the former 85-acre Texas Instruments campus, is nearly finished with Phase 1 of construction. Two of the four technology-oriented office buildings, a fitness center, a parking garage and the majority of the landscaping and corporate parks will be completed by July 2017.

Los Angeles-based Regent Properties designed the corporate campus to be an all-inclusive community where people can live, shop, exercise and socialize steps from their office. Tenants can take a call on the property's numerous green spaces or grab a cup of coffee after a quick run in the fitness center.

Those amenities will soon be steps from their front doors.

Plano officials OK’d the development of approximately 700 apartments, retail space and a hotel on the west side of U.S. 75. Partnering with Trammell Crow Residential, one of the nation’s oldest commercial real estate developers, the residences will blend modern multifamily amenities with the convenience of a short commute.

Adding apartment units to corporate campuses is the latest push in developing entire communities, rather than just commuter destinations. A study from DeskMag found that in the search for an ideal office space, 58% of professionals consider distance to home a priority. Eliminating travel time to work opens the door for better living and increased social activity.

The Trammell Crow Residences will be within walking distance from office buildings, as well as The Eatery food hall, six on-site restaurants, Legacy Grove park, a 25K SF wellness center and a 10K SF conference center.

Workplace wellness goes beyond a fitness center. It involves designing a campus that promotes energy and a larger sense of community. Neighbors and co-workers will mingle across four acres of open space and a collection of indoor and outdoor meeting areas. Collaboration will keep going long after business hours.

"The urban village that we have planned will keep the campus buzzing with activity that will attract high-quality retailers,” said Amy Castellanos, Regent Properties vice president of Texas acquisitions and development.

While Regent's goal is to build everything a tenant would need within Legacy Central’s 85 acres, the campus is also close to the best retail and transportation Plano has to offer.

The Watters Creek shopping center and the Parker Road DART station are less than five minutes away, allowing for easy access to Dallas. There are also multiple restaurants within walking distance, like Kulu Sushi Bar, Sapporo Ramen and Grill and the new Mitsuwa Marketplace.

“We want tenants to never have to get in their car, but if they do, we’ve got one of the best retail destinations in the Metroplex," Castellanos said.

Regent plans to deliver Phase 1 of Legacy Central by summer 2017. Prospective tenants can check out the construction progress and tour the campus at the new marketing center starting the first week of May. Visitors can also learn about how their companies could do a custom build-out in one of the offices, which offer 200K SF to 300K SF of usable floor space in each building.

Legacy's Central's leasing team, Transwestern senior vice president Nathan Durham and managing director Duane Henley, have already seen a lot of interest from prospective tenants.

“Nathan and Duane are seeing a lot of activity on the project. Those that have toured it get excited about our vision,” Castellanos said.

It is a vision that demands a new adage: Home is where the office is.

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