When planning began almost five years ago, Canon USA President and CEO Joe Adachi promised 1,200 Lake Success employees that he would build the best facility in the world — the pledge is now one step closer to becoming reality in Melville.
Adachi, along with a small group of project representatives, celebrated as the the final steal beam atop their new 700,000 square foot North and South American in Melvillewas secured into place Thursday.
“This facility is not only for us, but for future generations. We’d like to be a good corporate citizen for Huntington, Long Island and New York state,” Adachi said at the ceremony.
Adachi and Canon USA Executive Vice President Seymour Liebman signed the beam before it was lifted to the top of the structure and fitted by workers. Secured in the center of the beam was a small evergreen tree, a symbol of good luck in the construction industry.
The $500 million project, to be completed late next year, will replace the current Lake Success location on the corner of Walt Whitman Road and LIE Service Road.
Erected on what was once a pumpkin farm, the new Melville facility will feature a library, fitness center, relaxation room, gourmet cafeteria, high-end restrooms and nearly 500,000 square feet of parking.
The facility is designed and built by HOK Planning Group and Turner Construction — also involved in the recent Yankee Stadium construction project.
Green technology was used prominently in the building's design, according to company officials.
“Our concept is ‘green office.’ We’re going to make this very environmentally oriented; not only on the site, but also inside," Adachi said.
“This is a great example of how local and county government can bring jobs to the region and grow our economy,” said Steve Rossetti, board member and secretary of the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency, who spoke at the event.
