HANOVER TOWNSHIP, PA, April 27, 2015 -- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), one of the nation’s largest mutual life insurers and a leading provider of employee benefits, today announced the start of construction for a new facility for its employees located in the Hanover Township area. The new building will comprise 281,680 gross square feet of space and will be built on a thirty-one acre site. The new facility is set to open in 2016 at 6255 Sterners Way in Hanover Township and will replace Guardian’s current regional headquarters in the area located in three buildings in Bethlehem and one in Allentown.
The new facility, developed in consultation with Guardian employees, is just one facet of Guardian’s overall Workplace Strategy, designed to enhance work/life integration for employees, increase the ability to work collaboratively for the customers’ benefit, and remain competitive in the marketplace. Features such as a town hall space, walk-up technology support center, walking trail, fitness center, and pantries on every floor are included as part of the design.
The new workspace is also an integral component of Guardian’s sustainability strategy through developments related to energy efficiency; health and wellness; and productivity. The new workspace will adhere to the latest standards for energy efficiency. All offices will be located in the center of the building to maximize natural daylight and external views. The building will be LEED- certified, and the interiors will be LEED Silver (LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class buildings, strategies, and practices).
The building’s design reflects the ongoing shift in the business world toward a brighter, more open work environment that, in minimizing the use of offices, promotes greater collaboration and productivity among employees while addressing their feelings about where and how they work. The new space will also bring together employees from separate buildings located throughout the Bethlehem community, allowing for a more collaborative work environment that will better coordinate and enhance client interaction and support.
“This is an exciting step toward our goal of making our employee workspaces as open, safe, and adaptable as they can be. The new facility will create innovative workspace arrangements, leverage technology enhancements, and accommodate flexible work arrangement options,” stated Scott Dolfi, Chief Operating Officer of Guardian. “Guardian continues to focus on attracting and retaining the best local talent, enhancing diversity and inclusion, promoting employee wellness, and finding ways to work more effectively as individuals and as teams to best serve our clients.”
“We are thrilled that Guardian, a thriving company with a history of more than 150 years of service, is committed to our community,” stated John N. Diacogiannis, Chairman of the Hanover Township Board of Supervisors. “This new development brings an environmentally friendly facility to the area and underscores our commitment to the continued economic vitality of our community.”
Construction will continue throughout 2015, and employees can anticipate a move-in date of late 2016. In addition to the Bethlehem location, Guardian has regional offices in Appleton, Wisconsin; Pittsfield, Massachusetts; and Spokane, Washington. Guardian is headquartered in New York City.
