Big Ass Fans® moved this week into its new global headquarters, an 88,000-sq. ft. facility located on 32 acres in Lexington, Ky. Situated on the same site as the company’s 44,000-sq. ft., one-of-a-kind research-and-development laboratory, the headquarters reunites several departments previously based in four sites throughout the city.
Slated to house 600 employees, the headquarters was built with future expansion in mind allowing occupancy to grow along with Big Ass Fans. Designed by Gray Construction, the headquarters on Innovation Drive is a testament to Big Ass Fans’ dedication to employee satisfaction.
The truss-exposed open ceiling plan features more than 80 of the company’s fans and resembles a manufacturing space, nodding to the company’s industrial roots. By minimizing ductwork and using fans in conjunction with the HVAC system, Big Ass Fans saved approximately $200,000 in construction materials, used 10% less air conditioning capacity than typical construction requires and reduced AC motor electrical consumption.
Six dedicated conference rooms, two with retractable walls, allow employees to customize their conference needs while 15 smaller breakout rooms provide plenty of meeting space. A 168-seat Cantina helps builds camaraderie during meals and special events, and a large training room accommodates new hire education, management classes and new product training.
Occupancy sensors control lights throughout the building and Solatubes bring in soft, natural light to create a pleasant work environment. The new facility also includes a private lactation lounge for nursing mothers and a dedicated clinic staffed by an on-site nurse practitioner.