Sony Opens Tech Center

Thursday, Sony cut the ribbon on its new 277,000 square-foot, three-story Center for Engineering and Development amidst company executives and government officials. The center, called Genesis, was built as part of Sony's 63-acre Ranco Bernardo campus and is part of a US$25 million expansion of the Sony Technology Center in San Diego.

"The 800 Sony Electronics' engineers and support staff at this center are inventing new ways of integrating the most advanced display and media technology with the information and entertainment needs of the next generation," said Carl Yankowski, head of US electronics operations, at the opening ceremony of the center Thursday afternoon.

Genesis will serve as an in-house think tank to create and test new products and technologies. The center adds to the San Diego campus' already impressive manufacturing and testing site. The seven buildings and surrounding manufacturing plants produce everything from monitors to cell phones and game consoles. One might easily think that the new center is the perfect place for development and testing of Sony's next game console, the long-rumored and anticipated PlayStation 2.

The opening ceremony was part of SonyFest '97, a celebration of the company's 25th anniversary in San Diego. It also signals a transition from the site's manufacturing focus to one that includes the development of new technology.