PAETEC has chosen Rochester-based architectural and engineering firm Bergmann Associates to design its world headquarters building downtown.

Bergman Associates has designed other notable projects in the Rochester area, including the Public Safety Building, the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St. John Fisher College, and the University of Rochester’s new Warner Graduate School of Education.

"I know Arunas Chesonis (PAETEC CEO) has looked to a lot of existing buildings downtown, particularly the older ones, as having stood the test of time,” said Bergmann Associates’ principal designer Jim Durfee. “So I think he respects that, would like to see the new building reflect some of that. But I also think that we'll be looking to create some excitement with the building facade, so he's interested in that as well."

Durfee says the PAETEC project will include a 225,000 square foot four-story building. It will be a green building with all the modern energy saving entities including a green roof.

"Almost the entire footprint is going to be available as a green roof, a garden, a park in the sky, it's going to be a very unique feature,” Durfee explained. “It's something that I know that PAETEC hopes to share with the community on certain occasions so I think that will be a key feature."

Durfee believes with PAETEC, the Midtown Tower revitalization, and the possibility of a performing arts center, this project will breathe new life into downtown like no other has before. He says with added green space, the Midtown site will create a park-like setting that could be used as an entertainment venue.

"I could see the jazz festival spilling into this district and perhaps even onto the roof of PAETEC,” Durfee said. “These are the types of activities that really give life to downtown and remains to be seen how that's going to play out, but the potential is there."

LaBella Associates and Clark Patterson Lee are also joining the team. They'll handle the electrical and civil engineering pieces of the $55 million project.

The plan is to move aggressively, with foundation work beginning in the fall. PAETEC plans to relocate to downtown Rochester by June 2013.