Construction is underway on a three-story corporate office building at 6255 Sterners Way in Hanover Township, Northampton County.

Guardian Life Insurance, one of the nation’s largest mutual life providers, has announced it will establish a three-story corporate office building in Hanover Township, Northampton County, bolstering its already strong presence in the Lehigh Valley.

Construction is underway on a 281,680-square-foot office facility at 6255 Sterners Way. Expected to be completed and occupied by late 2016, the project demonstrates Guardian Life Insurance’s continued commitment to the Lehigh Valley, where it has operated since 1984.

“This is an exciting step toward our goal of making our employee workspaces as open, safe, and adaptable as they can be,” said Scott Dolfi, Guardian’s chief operating officer. “The new facility will create innovative workspace arrangements, leverage technology enhancements, and accommodate flexible work arrangement options.”

The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) has been working with Guardian Life Insurance since early 2014 on the site search and to help facilitate the project. Don Cunningham, LVEDC President and CEO, said this collaboration reflects the organization’s mission to serve as a shared services and resource center to help businesses to come, grow and start here.

“It’s always great when we can attract new businesses to the Lehigh Valley, but it’s equally crucial to make sure we help the companies already here grow and thrive,” Cunningham said. “That’s an important part of what we do every day here at LVEDC. Sixty-nine percent of the job growth in the Lehigh Valley during the last five years have come from existing businesses.”

Guardian Life Insurance is one of 15 companies in the Lehigh Valley with 1,000 or more employees.

The new corporate office will consolidate Guardian’s current regional headquarters, which is spread across three buildings in Bethlehem and one in Allentown. The company says bringing all the employees from separate buildings together will allow for a more collaborative work environment that will better coordinate and enhance client interaction and support.

“We are thrilled that Guardian, a thriving company with a history of more than 150 years of service, is committed to our community,” said 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.”

LVEDC helped Guardian Life Insurance’s real estate advisors to identify site opportunities for the project. In conjunction with the Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board and the Governor’s Action Team, LVEDC also provided Guardian Life Insurance access to information on the regional economy and leveraged relationships with municipal officials and utility providers to help facilitate the process.

Guardian Life Insurance has about 5,000 employees in the United States and a network of more than 3,200 financial representatives nationwide. Headquartered in New York City, the company has regional offices in Appleton, Wis.; Pittsfield, Mass.; and Spokane, Wash., as well as the Lehigh Valley.

The H-shaped building, which includes two wings and a center connector, will be LEED-certified and adhere to the latest standards for energy efficiency. All offices will be located in the center of the building it maximize natural daylight and external views. The building’s design reflects the ongoing shift in the business world toward a brighter, more open work environment that minimizes the use of offices and promotes collaboration and productivity among employees.

“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,” Dolfi said. Features at the new office building include a town hall space, walk-up technology support center, walking trail, fitness center and pantries on every floor.