Whirlpool breaks ground on downtown office park

Whirlpool executives were busy last week as they lauched a yearlong of celebration of the company's 100 years in business.

As part of a big day on Nov. 11 the company broke ground on its new office campus in downtown Benton Harbor.

Over the next five years, the global manufacturer and marketer of home appliances plans to invest $86.8 million to consolidate its world headquarters, bringing employees from 15 locations across the region to three centralized office campuses.  

A new campus will be located in downtown Benton Harbor on Main Street, between River Street and Riverview Drive. The campus will have three energy-efficient, three-story buildings, for a total of approximately 270,000 square feet of office space

The company has initiated a series of meetings with local contractors to spell out work needed to be done in coming months.

After the ceremonial ground breaking, Jeff M. Fettig, Whirlpool Corp. chairman and chief executive officer headed to New York where he rang the New York Stock Exchange's Closing Bell.

The company also marked the day with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new, 1 million square foot manufacturing facility to produce premium cooking products in Cleveland, Tenn.

Throughout the year, Whirlpool will mark its centennial by launching an employee volunteerism program rallying employees to contribute 100 volunteer hours. It will publish an official history of Whirlpool Corporation. There also will be select facility tours for corporate partners.

"In its second century, Whirlpool will continue to be at the forefront of corporate social responsibility," says Fettig.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Whirlpool Corp.