Whirlpool opens campus in Michigan

Whirlpool Corp. has announced the opening of its new, state-of-the-art Riverview Campus in Benton Harbor, Mich.

"With the opening of this beautiful and spacious campus, we are looking forward to a continued future with the city of Benton Harbor, which we have been proud to call home for over 100 years," said Jeff Fettig, chairman and CEO. "The Riverview Campus allows Whirlpool Corp. to deliver on improvements in productivity, operations, energy efficiency and overall employee experience."

An investment of $70 million, the Riverview Campus, which is located at 600 W. Main St. in Benton Harbor and covers 245,275 sq. ft., is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and is seeking LEED Gold certification.

Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony in November 2010, as part of the company's plan to consolidate its 15 owned and leased facilities into three centralized office campuses. The three campuses now include the existing Administrative Center and Technology Center Campuses, as well as the multiple building Riverview Campus. The company also plans to retain its Hilltop South offices at 150 Hilltop Rd. in St. Joseph and the Harbor Town offices at 145 East Main St., Benton Harbor.

In addition to the Michigan campus, Whirlpool continues to invest in U.S. manufacturing jobs and $1 billion in its U.S. footprint from 2010 to 2014, including:

• A new $200 million production facility and distribution center recently opened in Cleveland, adding 130 new jobs to the work force there.

• Acquisition of the former WC Wood facility in Ottawa, Ohio, adding about 400 jobs and bringing total employment in the State of Ohio to approximately 10,000.

• A $175 million investment in the company's Clyde, Ohio laundry facilities, which produce energy- and water-efficient laundry products.

• A $20 million investment in its Amana, Iowa, refrigeration plant to drive improved productivity and efficiency.