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Beacon Partners Begins Construction on Corning Optical Communications Headquarters

Gensler

Beacon Partners has begun construction on a build-to-suit global headquarters building in northwest Charlotte for Corning’s Optical Communications business. The 182,170-square-foot building, expected to be complete in early 2019, will be part of Riverbend Village at the intersection of NC Highway 16 and Interstate 485. It will house some 650 employees who work in Corning’s largest business.

“We are excited to be working alongside the great people at Corning to deliver a new office building on a site that addresses the short- and long-term real estate needs for their growing Optical Communications business,” said Sean McDonnell, Director | Build-to-Suit Development at Beacon Partners. "It’s a headquarters that a global technology company will be proud to call home."

The new six-story headquarters building will be a reflection of Corning's 166-year history of glass innovation, a history that extends from the creation of the glass bulb for Thomas Edison's electric light, to the tough, thin cover glass for mobile phones, to the low-loss optical fiber first developed by Corning that now forms the backbone of the world's communications networks. 

Corning’s new home will also feature:

  • A high-performance, all-optical network that will showcase Corning’s world-leading optical fiber and wireless technologies.
  • An innovator’s work environment that strikes a balance between spaces meant to enhance collaboration, and areas for focused, individual work.
  • A park-like atmosphere with walking trails and pathways for use by employees, residents and area visitors, reflecting Corning’s commitment to sustainability and community.

"At Corning, total quality is one of our guiding principles. Our success as the global leader in our industry depends on it," said Clark Kinlin, executive vice president, Corning Optical Communications. "We co-innovate with our partners to design and build the world’s highest-performing telecommunications networks. Beacon Partners has a history of developing best-in-class office spaces and we’re excited to co-innovate with them as they build our new home in Charlotte."

 Corning is relocating its Optical Communications headquarters from Hickory, N.C., where it will continue operating several manufacturing facilities. The headquarters move is designed to enhance Corning’s long-term growth and strengthen its competitive position globally as the world's only end-to-end manufacturer and supplier of optical solutions and the largest fiber producer with the lowest-cost manufacturing platform.

 The new location will provide centralized access to Corning's manufacturing facilities across North Carolina; advantaged access to transportation for Corning's global customers, suppliers, business partners, and thousands of its employees; and increased access to specialized talent to support Corning's future growth into new areas and technologies. 

Alongside Beacon Partners, the team includes Gensler as the shell building architect, Balfour Beatty as general contractor, and Land Design as civil engineer. Financing is provided by Regions Bank. Karen Mankowski and Patrick McCoy of Newmark Knight Frank represented Corning.

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