Hewlett Packard Co. Branch Office Rising

Construction has started on the $5-million, 57,000-square-foot first phase of a new branch office for the Hewlett Packard Co. in the Irvine Business Complex-East.

Designed for eventual expansion to 110,000 square feet by Albert C. Martin & Associates of Los Angeles and Irvine, the office is being built on an 8.6-acre site at 9800 Muirlands Ave. Phase 1 completion is scheduled in September.