Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging and advanced office solutions, broke ground this week for its new North and South American headquarters campus in Melville, N.Y. The new facility is being designed to meet LEED Gold certification standards and will serve as one of Canon’s three worldwide headquarters, with the others located in Tokyo and London.

 

The new headquarters will feature several environmentally friendly elements, including a design emphasizing the use of natural lighting. It will also incorporate energy-efficient equipment and materials in construction as well as landscaping featuring native species and drought-resistant vegetation.

 

“Environmental sustainability is a pillar of Canon’s corporate culture,” said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A. “We view the development of our new headquarters as an opportunity to set a precedent for environmentally conscious development throughout the design and construction process.”

 

Canon has been a fixture in the Long Island community since 1971, when it moved its headquarters to Lake Success, N.Y. At that time, the company employed approximately 80 people; it currently employs approximately 1,200 in Lake Success. The new facility is expected to create 750 new jobs over a number of years once Canon moves to Melville.