New high-tech hub unveiled at Long Island Technology Center.

Ten year-old Brentwood resident Kristen Fulco, who was the successful contestant in naming the Cyber, Tech and Digital buildings that make up the Long Island Technology Center (LITC), helped to usher in the new "Silicon Island" era.

She was joined by Charles A. Gargano, chairman of the Empire State Development, Lewis and William Rudin, Beth Rudin DeWoody and the Cogswell Realty Group, co-owners and developers of the Long Island Technology Center (www. LITechctr.com), and the Supervisor of the Town of Islip, Pete McGowan, to officially "light Up" the LITC at the grand opening of the latest site in a global network of "smart" commercial properties.

"Today, Long Island's technology community takes its rightful place as one of the key new technology nodes on the global technology map," said William C. Rudin. "This project has exceeded our initial expectations, and the pedigree of our charter tenants is world class. We are extremely proud of our activity to date and want to personally thank our development team, as well as Governor Pataki and Chairman Gargano, for their help in making this a true global connectivity center."

"Thanks to the partnership between business leaders like the Rudins and Cogswell Realty and government leaders led by Governor Pataki, this building will again be home to innovation and creativity, as well as thousands of workers, and Long Island will remain home to high-tech growth and opportunity well into the 21st Century," Gargano said.

"Locating the Long Island Technology CentEr in the Town of Islip is a double bonus," said Islip Town Supervisor Pete McGowan. "It not only brings a unique high profile development to our town, but also makes use of an existing facility that was empty. This high-tech, smart building has something to offer both large and small companies, as well as area students majoring in technology disciplines. It is a global link that should benefit Islip for years to come."

Charter tenants LISTnet (www.listnet.org); Imperial Software ([e-mail]); Keytrade Inc. (www.keytradeonline.com); Storage Networks (www.storagenetworks. com); Security Dynamics (www.securitydynamics.com); Digital Arts Services (www.digitalartservices.com); ZumaComputer Solutions (www.zumacomputer.com); Novara Computer Services, Inc. (www.novara.com); Nature America, Inc. (www.nature.com); and Video Net Services, were on hand for the festivities.

Charter telecom providers will include Cablevision Lightpath, Bell Atlantic, MCI WorldCom UUNet and North American Telecom. The LITC will also partner with Keyspan Communications to build a 36 strand fiber optic cable that will link the LITC with Keyspan's broadband telecommunications network, including broadband connectivity to 60 Hudson Street, 55 Broad Street (the Rudins' New York Information Technology Center), the Reuters building at 3 Times square and 110 Wall Street.

The LITC encompasses 82 acres in the Town of Islip. Current structures consist of 350,000 square feet. An additional 700,000 square feet of space can be built as-of-right. When complete, this project will be one of the most technologically advanced buildings in the world, incorporating state-of-the-art wired and wireless technologies. It will possess a carrier-neutral fiber and copper backbone that will give the Center's occupants multiple choices of telecom providers.

Tenants at the New York Information Technology Center [at] 55 Broad Street welcomed the LITC charter tenants via video conferencing during the opening ceremonies.