Garmin International (Booth 1900) is expanding its Olathe, Kan., headquarters in two phases as part of its master plan. The first phase will take two years and includes building a new 720,000-sq-ft manufacturing and distribution center dedicated primarily to manufacturing aviation products. The second phase will also take two years and is scheduled for completion in late 2020. It involves renovating an existing Garmin warehouse and manufacturing space into a research-and-development facility and office space.
The expansion project includes amenities such as a fitness center, cafeteria, athletic fields and a two-mile outdoor walking trail “to promote fitness and interaction among employees,” according to the company. The 96-acre Garmin campus will expand to 2.1 million sq ft of space that can house an additional 2,600 employees. Garmin employs 11,400 people worldwide, including 2,800 at the Olathe campus and another 600 elsewhere in the Kansas City, Mo., area.
“This is a significant investment in our associates and our company’s future,” said Garmin CEO Cliff Pemble. “Our vision is to be an enduring company that is a leader in all markets that it serves. To accomplish this, we need a world-class facility that can attract and retain the highest level of talent. We believe we are poised for growth in many areas of our business, so this next phase of development is essential to Garmin’s success, and it signals our commitment to our customers, associates, shareholders, and community.”
