TACO TOPS OFF STEEL STRUCTURE OF NEW INNOVATION & DEVELOPMENT CENTER
– Taco marked an important milestone in the construction of its new Innovation & Development Center, the centerpiece of its $18 million expansion project, with beam raising and topping off ceremonies last week.
Company President & CEO John Hazen White, Jr. was joined by family members, Taco employees, and the crew of Ajax Construction of Harrisville, RI as the Innovation & Development Center’s structural steel frame was completed and the final ‘topping off” beam, which was signed by all of Taco’s employees, was laid in place.
The Taco Innovation & Development Center will consist of a 24,037 square foot addition to the current building. It will be a state-of-the-art learning and training environment, complete with new classroom spaces, conference rooms, a business center, and functional labs for testing and teaching.
In addition, Taco’s existing building will undergo extensive renovation to advance the comfort, functionality and productivity of its reception area, employee cafeteria and office areas. All renovations will include new energy efficient lighting, natural light, and the very best in indoor comfort. The Center will utilize, display and provide a hands-on learning environment for the best equipment and systems that today’s HVAC industry offers for comfort, efficiency and sustainability. The HVAC products and systems will be visible throughout the entire facility forming ‘Living Laboratories” that allow for close-up viewing, hands-on learning and teaching.
The LEED project, slated for completion during the fall of 2012, will provide the space Taco needs to grow and remain competitive while remaining in RI, where the company has been operating since 1942.
The project is now in the second of five phases. It will employ a total of 36 subcontracting employers and provide nearly 200 jobs for the local economy.
About Taco
Taco, Inc., headquartered in Cranston, RI, is a leading manufacturer of heating and cooling equipment, systems and accessories for hydronic-based applications in residential, commercial and institutional buildings. The company, in business since 1920, also operates facilities in Fall River, MA and Milton, Ontario, Canada. www.taco-hvac.com