“This is the ultimate collaboration to create new ideas,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger.

The mayor accompanied Mark Chamberlain, president of Trivaris, and co-founder and vice-president Ty Shattuck as they toured the company’s new home on the entire fourth floor of the former Westinghouse building on Longwood Drive. It is the first of what will be 14 buildings that will contain the McMaster University Innovation Park within the Longwood Drive, Aberdeen and Highway 403 area.

Trivaris becomes the first major strategic private sector tenant at MIP, say city officials, taking the entire 23,000 square-foot fourth floor. Trivaris, which attempts to transform ideas into marketable commodities, moved from its 10,000 square-foot industrial park in Burlington to MIP in March. An open house is scheduled for May, officials said.

Although the office furniture wasn’t completely moved into the building for its 65 employees and there were rooms still under construction, Mr. Chamberlain said being at the innovation park is essential for Trivaris’ growing business needs.

“We are close to McMaster University, close to three high schools, we have highly motivated and skilled people,” said Mr. Chamberlain. “This is where it begins. It makes sense to be in the hub of activity.”

Mr. Chamberlain said he has signed a 10- year lease with McMaster University.

The innovation park is expected to start “exploding” when the building that will house the CANMET-Materials Technology Laboratory is scheduled to break ground in June, with a completion date of Sept. 2010. In total MIP is projecting to have over 3,000 people working in the area within 15 years. The city has contributed $5 million to the park, with the Ontario government adding another $10 million.

Mr. Chamberlain believes the development within the area could happen sooner, especially when CANMET relocates from Ottawa to the area.

The current 190,000 square-foot building, is nearly completed, but it still could house another tenant soon, say city economic development officials, was once Westinghouse then CAMCO before it was closed down.

“There was good old technology here,” said Mr. Chamberlain, looking out over a panoramic view of the city. “Now we are rethinking the ideas, and using the same building for new technology. We have come full circle. We are building on the foundation of what Hamilton once had.”