Dassault Systèmes first tenant in FM Global’s former Johnston HQ

DASSAULT SYSTEMES is moving its Rhode Island offices from Providence's West Side, in Rising Sun Mills, to Northwoods, the former headquarters of FM Global in Johnston that the insurance giant is redeveloping. / COURTESY HOBBS BROOK MANAGEMENT
DASSAULT SYSTEMES is moving its Rhode Island offices from Providence's West Side, in Rising Sun Mills, to Northwoods, the former headquarters of FM Global in Johnston that the insurance giant is redeveloping. / COURTESY HOBBS BROOK MANAGEMENT

JOHNSTON – Dassault Systèmes has signed on to become the first tenant in the new Northwoods office building under construction on Atwood Avenue, Hobbs Brook Management LLC, owners of the property said Wednesday.

The French software firm has leased 90,000 square feet in the 338,600-square-foot building being created out of the shell of the former headquarters of Johnston insurance company FM Global. Hobbs Brook is FM Global’s real estate subsidiary.

Northwoods will become home to Dassault Systèmes’ Simulia division, which currently makes engineering simulation software from offices in the Rising Sun Mills complex on Providence’s West Side.

After Dassault expressed concerns about space constraints and the potential flood risk at Rising Sun, Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee flew to France to meet with company executives and convince them not to leave the state.

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Dassault leases 335,000 square feet of office space from Hobbs Brook at an office park in Waltham, Mass.

Simulia was created when Dassault purchased Providence software company Abaqus in 2005.

“Dassault Systèmes’ Simulia brand has been engaged in the greater Providence community for more than 35 years, and we will continue to be an active contributor to this community,” said Scott Berkey, CEO, Dassault Systèmes Simulia. “We are looking forward to our new home in Johnston, R.I., which offers ample room to support continued growth, and working with Hobbs Brook to create an environment for our employees that will continue to drive our passion for innovation.”

Capstone Properties represented Dassault in the transaction.

The redevelopment of Northwoods was designed by Margulies Perruzzi Architects, and the construction manager is Dimeo Construction Company.

The building is expected to be ready for occupancy in the fall of 2014.

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