Owens-Illinois, Inc., informed 5 May 2005 that it is to relocate over 300 employees from the current headquarters building, One SeaGate, in Toledo, Ohio, to its Levis Development Park campus in nearby…
Owens-Illinois, Inc., informed 5 May 2005 that it is to relocate over 300 employees from the current headquarters building, One SeaGate, in Toledo, Ohio, to its Levis Development Park campus in nearby Perrysburg, Ohio, subject to the receipt of certain state and local incentives. O-I employees currently occupy about eight floors of the 32-story One SeaGate building, which is located in central Toledo. The company-owned Levis Park campus, located about 15 miles from One SeaGate, is the current home of about 550 O-I employees. Levis Park is currently dedicated to research and development with a packaging design studio, innovation center and plastic closure sampling center. Some employees currently occupying One SeaGate will move into vacant space at Levis Park resulting from the divestiture of the blow-molded plastic container business in October 2004. O-I says it intends to remodel and modernize the three buildings in Levis Park. The company is also planning to build a fourth building of approximately 7,000 to 9,300 square meters, to house corporate support functions. More details surrounding this construction project are expected later. The move is scheduled to begin in the 2Q of 2006 and be completed by the expiry of the current One SeaGate lease on 30 September 2006. “This decision was not an easy one, to say the least,” said Steve McCracken, O-I Chairman and CEO. “We looked at many options, including staying in One SeaGate, moving to Levis Park, or relocating out of state. We had to keep in mind our vision and our transformation agenda as well as our heritage. Our decision is based on our future, not our past, and is what we feel is best for a vibrant and growing O-I. We look forward to finalizing the necessary agreements with the State of Ohio and the City of Perrysburg that will make this move possible”. “O-I“s intention to keep its headquarters in northwest Ohio is a testament to the quality of our workforce,” said Ohio Governor Bob Taft. “In a time when we“re competing with other nations and other states for jobs, I am pleased that O-I has reaffirmed its desire to remain in Ohio”.