PCS Phosphate Company Inc. (PotashCorp-Aurora) recently broke ground on an employee center to replace the original facility on the Pamlico River destroyed by flooding from Hurricane Irene.
“It was a huge loss for us in several respects. The employee center was used frequently for meetings, training and big employee gatherings,” said Steve Beckel, general manager of the site. “It was also used by employees and retirees for birthday celebrations, family gatherings and even weddings at the facility.”
The 15,000-square-foot building will be elevated above the flood plain and includes four meeting rooms, a commercial kitchen and office space for the activities manager. The Pamlico River Room will be the largest meeting space featuring a large antique table, salvaged from the original structure, with seating for 20. The building design is “in the vernacular style of the Coastal Plain,” according to Dunn & Dalton, architects of the facility.
Brent Heimann, president, PCS Nitrogen and PCS Phosphate, was on hand for the occasion, “Employees are our greatest asset and this facility will be a wonderful place for them to gather to mark safety milestones and achievements. Running safe operations with no harm to people is our guiding mission; the employee center is a symbol of that commitment as a place for training, planning and celebration,” said Heimann.
Other representatives from PotashCorp, as well as the general contractor, WIMCO Corp. and Dunn & Dalton, participated in the groundbreaking which officially started construction of the project, scheduled for completion in early 2014.
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As the world’s largest crop nutrient company, PotashCorp plays an integral role in global food production. The company produces the three essential nutrients required to help farmers grow healthier, more abundant crops. With global population rising and diets improving in developing countries, crop nutrients such as potash, phosphates and nitrogen offer a responsible and practical solution to help produce the food we need, from the land we have available.
PCS Phosphate Company Inc. (PotashCorp-Aurora) produces phosphate products for agricultural and industrial uses. We are a proud member of the Aurora region, employing more than 900 people and contributing locally through purchasing and community investments.