BRECKSVILLE, Ohio — CSA Group, a global testing, inspection and certification firm headquartered in Toronto, is planning a major expansion in Northeast Ohio with a new U.S. headquarters and research-and-development facility at the Valor Acres development.
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The project will feature a more than 290,000-square-foot building situated on a 20-acre site along Brecksville Road, just north of the mixed-use core of Valor Acres at Brecksville and Miller roads. Construction and sitework began in March, with the facility expected to open in early 2028.
“This project represents an exciting next chapter for CSA Group in Northeast Ohio,” Rich Weiser, CSA’s executive vice president of global operations, said in a press release.
The new Valor Acres campus will replace CSA Group’s existing U.S. headquarters in Independence, a facility built in 1969. However, a second, newer Independence location commissioned in 2022 will remain operational.
“Building our new facility within the Valor Acres development will support our team and allow us to expand our capabilities and capacity as we continue to grow in the region,” Weiser said.
“We’re proud to invest in a facility and community that reflects our commitment to innovation, safety and sustainability that will serve our employees, customers and the community for years to come,” he added.
The building will include a three-story office component and a two-story laboratory, designed to support both administrative operations and advanced testing functions.
The Brecksville Planning Commission granted final approval for the project on March 19, following earlier revisions to address concerns related to building height, traffic access and pedestrian connectivity.
“I think it’s sharp-looking, and I think it’s kind of consistent with what else has gone in (Valor Acres),” Councilman Dominic Caruso, a commission member, said of the new building.
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Initial plans raised concerns about the structure’s elevation, which was projected to stand about 10 feet above Brecksville Road. In response, developer DiGeronimo Development agreed to lower the main building and a potential future structure on the site by approximately 2.5 feet. Additionally, a landscaped mound north of the building was reduced by 10 feet.
Traffic design changes also were implemented. Plans to cut through a landscaped median on Brecksville Road were eliminated. Instead, the project will feature a right-in, right-out driveway configuration, reducing traffic disruptions and preserving the median. Northbound drivers will access the site via internal routes through Valor Acres from Miller Road.
Pedestrian access was another focal point during the review process. While initial concerns centered on limited walking paths, the developer agreed to enhance the sidewalk along Brecksville Road by incorporating a more dynamic, “weaving” design. This pathway will help connect the mixed-use portion of Valor Acres with nearby residential developments, including the Canvas community to the north.
The CSA Group project marks another milestone in the ongoing development of Valor Acres, a large-scale mixed-use project that continues to attract corporate investment and expand Brecksville’s commercial footprint.
Originally reported by Bob Sandrick in Cleveland.
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