Campbell Soup Building Topped Off

In Camden, NJ, Campbell Soup Company held a topping off ceremony last Friday to mark the completion of the steelwork phase of its expansion of its world headquarters facility. The project, which broke ground in October 2008, includes a new employee services building.

The beam was signed by all the iron workers, plus hundreds of Campbell employees.
The beam was signed by all the iron workers, plus hundreds of Campbell employees.

Designed by architectural firm KlingStubbins, the 80,000 square foot building will include a café, fitness center, company store, and credit union, as well as office space, conference rooms, and a learning and development center.

Campbell, which has been located in Camden since 1869, is pursuing LEED certification for the new employee services building. Environmental features toward that end include energy efficient HVAC, water conservation strategies, recycled building materials, and daylight harvesting techniques.

Torcon Inc. is the general contractor and Greyhawk is the on-site construction manager/owner’s representative on the project. The building is scheduled for completion in early 2010.

The top beam is placed into position with the American flag and an evergreen tree atop the beam for good luck.
The top beam is placed into position with the American flag and an evergreen tree atop the beam for good luck.

The employee services building is part of a $90 million expansion project that includes plans for a 110 acre office park. The company, which has 670,000 square feet of existing office space at its headquarters, would cover about 40 acres of the park. The park also will include approximately 200,000 square feet of office space for future tenants.

Continued Community Involvement
In Fall 2008, Campbell also announced that it would contribute $10 million to Camden’s neighborhood revitalization efforts, job training initiatives, and projects to benefit youth, such as after-school and summer programs. The $10 million Public Benefits Plan will be funded over the next five years by Campbell and the Campbell Soup Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm.

Rendering of the employee services building entrance
Rendering of the employee services building entrance

At that event, Campbell President and CEO Douglas R. Conant, stated, “We have a vested interest in seeing our city grow. With our government partners, we will work tirelessly to attract new businesses to this city. Simply stated, Campbell’s expansion in Camden is good for our employees, it’s good for our business and for our shareowners, and it’s good for our community.”

For Campbell, the new building marks the first major development to its headquarters since the construction of the Dr. John T. Dorrance Culinary Center in 2003. The company has approximately 1,200 full-time employees and 500 contractors at its headquarters.

(Top two photos courtesy of Campbell Soup Company; bottom rendering courtesy of KlingStubbins)


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