TAE Technologies, a Foothill Ranch-based private fusion energy research company, has leased a 99,638 SF facility at 9740 Irvine Boulevard in Irvine, California. Kidder Mathews Senior Vice President Oliver Ternate represented TAE in the lease. Irvine-based LBA Logistics is the property owner and was represented by Steve Wagner, Louis Tomaselli and Zach Niles from JLL.

TAE is expanding its operations to Irvine and building a sixth-generation research reactor called Copernicus, named after the renowned 16th-century Polish astronomer. The company is one of the most generously funded technology ventures in Orange County and has recently received an additional $250 million in funding towards its mission to develop and commercialize nuclear fusion, a safe and sustainable source of clean energy.

The Class A building is currently under construction, scheduled for completion in April 2023. The 9740 Irvine Boulevard site is close to TAE’s existing Foothill Ranch Headquarter facilities, and TAE expects to house over 100 people in the new space.

The development is part of the 26-acre industrial property near the intersection of Irvine Boulevard and Alton Parkway. It is one of the largest industrial properties in the Irvine Spectrum, consisting of two buildings totaling approximately 450,000 SF; previously occupied by Toshiba Corp. LBA Logistics purchased the property in 2016 and renovated the larger building at 9750 Irvine Boulevard. A smaller two-story office building was demolished where the new 9740 Irvine Boulevard building is being constructed.