Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Mike Baesman of Gore Acoustics, of Sparks, installs soffits in the new Harley-Davidson Financial Services building in Carson City on Wednesday. The new building is expected to open in November and will house a call center with about 500 employees. Above is an architect's rendering of the front of the new Harley Davidson Financial Services building.
In about 15 days, about 500 Harley-Davidson Financial Services employees are scheduled to move into the company's new $23 million building on Technology Way.
For now, though, plastic still covers the many holes in the building where windows are supposed to be. And recent rain in the Eagle Valley made construction a little less comfortable for the workers.
Muddy puddles ridged by the tire grooves of heavy equipment surrounded the 100,000-square-foot building last week.
Despite the looming deadline, Donal Hummer Jr., Harley-Davidson Financial Services community and government affairs vice president, is optimistic workers will have the building done on time.
As he stood in the foyer and surveyed the progress, Hummer's black leather and gold lettered Harley-Davidson jacket was zipped up against the wind. He wore a matching hard hat with flames printed on the sides. The toes of his Adidas shoes were coated with mud.
"It's amazing what 300 guys can do," he said. "Some people say 'you're not going to be in here in 19 days' but I bet a large chunk of money that we will be."
This is his short list: finish the dry wall, the floors, get the furniture together and the windows on.
United Construction Co. of Reno is the principal contractor. The three-story building is designed to have open-layout floors and few rooms.
On the third floor, most of the 12-foot windows overlooking the Eagle Valley Golf Course are in place. Hummer said this floor is the most completed. Some of the carpeting and cubicle walls are installed. The four-foot walls are arranged like a maze.
The "open floor" concept means that all employees are near the windows. The executive offices and conference rooms are in the center of the building, he said. The new building has 15 offices and 32 conference rooms. The heating and cooling systems are designed for the call center equipment.
The designers were going for an open feel, Hummer said, so the north wall is glass, and the stairwell is enclosed by glass.
"We're gaining about a 10 percent increase in space utilization over our previous leased buildings."
The company currently leases two 48,000-square-feet buildings across from its new location. Harley-Davidson Financial Services finances both Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealers and buyers. It also insures riders and gives extended service.
Hummer said the grand opening ceremony is slated for March.
Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.
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