La-Z-Boy Monroe Headquarters Taking Shape

Once completed, the new world head­quarters for La-Z-Boy Incorporated will be unlike any other in Monroe County. “This building is where we are as a company today,” said Kurt L. Darrow, chair­man, president and chief execu­tive officer of the furniture-maker. “It embraces our brand images and puts us in the 21st century. The building is designed for our future.” #Standing in what will be the lobby and reception area, Mr. Dar­row, along with La-Z-Boy senior project manager Eric Hulsemann, last week took The Monroe News on a tour of the construction site. #Nearly surrounded by trees, the facility’s exterior is accented in brick and wood accompanied by large windows with expansive views of the oak savannah. #Once it is finished, the nearly 200,000-square-foot headquarters will have two main stories and a third smaller story. The third floor will house senior management employees and the board room. #Indoors, the open-air floor plans allow for more collaboration, of­ficials say. #Despite missing some construc­tion days during the winter, the $57 million project is on target to be finished by the end of the year. #“I’m really pleased with how they made up time,” Mr. Darrow said of contractor Rudolph Libbe. “ We are back on schedule and on budget.” #One of the first aspects of con­struction was the installation of the geothermal heating and cool­ing system, which contains 252 silos dug 400 feet deep. #The liquid will be kept at 55 degrees and can be heated and cooled as necessary to moderate the temperature in the building, Mr. Hulsemann explained. #Visitors will enter on the east side of the building and will be greeted by a water feature before walking into the lobby and recep­tion area. #TRIBUTE TO HISTORY #Mr. Darrow said the entrance will feature branding items from the history of the company, showcasing the company’s past, present and future. #Founded more than 88 years ago by Edward Knabusch and Edwin Shoemaker, the creators of Floral City Furniture Co., the company has had its headquarters on N. Telegraph Rd. more than 85 years. Mr. Darrow said the price to renovate that building was nearly as costly as a new structure. #The old site had its problems.

Read more at: http://www.monroenews.com/news/2014/jul/06/la-z-boys-new-headquarters-taking-shape/