When Craig Hall kicked off construction at his office park in Frisco back in 1998, the development didn’t even have a paved road that led to it, and only a few people showed up for the ground-breaking celebration. Eighteen years later, the developer again is turning dirt at his 162-acre park—on his 17th office building. And this time, the supporters came out in force to mark the occasion.

Maher Maso, Frisco’s mayor, opened the ceremony, held Monday. “People like Craig Hall invested in the first buildings that came here,” he said.“It took a lot of guts, it took a lot of foresight, it took a lot of risk … with that pressure he really created something special out here.”

Hall Park is the largest development of its kind in Frisco, which is seeing a burst of activity, especially along the Dallas North Tollway. New projects include The Star, anchored by the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters and training facility, and Frisco Station, a mixed-use project that’s adjacent to The Star.

But it was Craig Hall who pioneered development in the region. His goal back in 1998, was to help nurture a strong community. He gave credit to Frisco’s city leaders for never wavering from their ideals.“The people here have consistently supported a community that wisely spends its money, and wisely uses the taxes that come from new businesses moving here,” Hall said. “Companies need landlords that are interested in them, and they need communities that are interested in them.”

At 12 stories, the new 300,000-square-foot building will be the tallest in Frisco. Like others in the park, it was designed by Dallas-based HKS Inc. This one will feature a two-story lobby, allowing for more natural light. There will also be more space for people to sit and collaborate in common areas.

Amenities are designed to complement the park’s green space, which takes up about one third of the 162 acres. Kim Butler, director of leasing, says outdoor areas will be equipped with WiFi, so people can work and hold meetings outdoors.

The new building is scheduled to open in December 2017.

With current occupancy in the park at 95 percent, Hall is confident he’ll be breaking out the shovels again at some point in the future. “We are not about the short-term; we are about the long term vision,” he said.