Whirlpool Selects Corporate Campus Developer
Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE: WHR) announced the selection of The Pizzuti Cos. of Columbus, Ohio as developer for its new corporate campus to be located at the intersection of Main Street and Riverview Drive in downtown Benton Harbor.
The new development will transform the property into an office campus of three, three-story buildings and other amenities.
"Pizzuti offered a creative and talented team that not only embraced Whirlpool Corporation's 100-year history but also demonstrated an understanding of what it takes to support our forward-looking innovation processes," said Lee Utke, irector of global corporate real estate for Whirlpool. "They offered a holistic solution, a commitment to using locally based contractors and service providers, and a demonstrated track record of successful community enhancement projects."
The proposed design will also target LEED Gold certification.
Pizzuti's development projects include the Heathrow International Business Center in Orlando, Florida and One and Two Miranova, a mixed-use redevelopment in downtown Columbus that features a luxury high-rise condominium tower and a 12-story Class A office building that serves as home to Pizzuti's corporate headquarters. In addition, Pizzuti is serving as master developer for Exploration Park, a high-tech research and office park on the grounds of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Pizzuti also has completed multiple buildings for Whirlpool Corporation, including a 1.6 million-square-foot, LEED-certified facility.
Said Joel S. Pizzuti, president and COO of Pizzuti Cos.: "The entire Pizzuti team is committed to delivering a sustainable, world-class corporate headquarters that will allow Whirlpool to continue to retain and attract the best and brightest minds to its corporate workforce."
In July, Whirlpool Corporation announced plans to build a new office campus as part of a consolidation of its 15 owned and leased facilities -- located throughout the greater Benton Harbor and Saint Joseph area -- to three centralized office campuses. The changes are expected to take approximately five years to complete and will allow the company to deliver on improvements in productivity, operations, energy efficiency, and overall employee experience. These changes will also allow the company to reduce its operating costs, and will provide greater flexibility to adjust to changing business and staffing needs.
The final three campuses will include the existing Benton Harbor Administrative Center, the St. Joseph Technology Center location, along with the new Main Street Benton Harbor campus. In addition to these three campuses, the company plans to retain its Hilltop Drive South offices, Harbor Town offices and its Business Travel Center.
Whirlpool is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $17 billion in 2009, 67,000 employees, and 67 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world.
More at www.whirlpoolcorp.com or www.pizzuti.com.
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