Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., the global leader in satellite navigation, formally opens its new 60,000 square foot research and development facility in the Chandler Corporate Center on Friday.
“We are delighted to open such a state-of-the-art research and development facility here in Chandler,” said Merlin Smith, Director of Auto OEM Software, Garmin. “We chose to expand in Chandler because there is a large population of highly skilled engineers here locally and we have very much appreciated the support of both the city and state throughout this process.”
The new facility, located near McClintock Drive and Chandler Boulevard, is LEED Gold-certified and contains space for offices and research and development labs. Currently, approximately 130 associates work in the Chandler office, and this expansion will allow the office to gain an additional 141 new engineering and R&D jobs, as business conditions warrant. The Chandler office supports Garmin¹s software engineering needs, including aviation, automotive OEM, and desktop applications. The new facility represents $11 million in new capital investment.
Garmin has been an employer in the greater Phoenix area for more than 15 years and has been leasing office space at a nearby office in Chandler for five years.
“Chandler welcomes Garmin’s expansion here as we continue to grow our research and development community with solid, progressive employers,” Chandler Mayor Jay Tibshraeny said. “Leading edge firms like Garmin choosing to locate and expand in Chandler show that we continue our commitment to bring the best companies and jobs to our community.”
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