Featured Illustration (above): Rendering of additional construction at Raytheon’s manufacturing campus in McKinney. Image: Raytheon/Corgan
Posted: 9-18-19
By Edmond Ortiz
McKinney (Collin County)–Aerospace defense contractor Raytheon has tapped Dallas-based developer KDC to build a 200,000-square-foot expansion at its space and airborne systems headquarters in McKinney. The company expects to complete construction by late 2020.
The existing Raytheon campus at 2501 W. University Drive focuses on developing intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance systems, including electro-optical manufacturing and the production of high-energy laser systems.
In a press release, Raytheon described the expansion as a high-tech manufacturing/office facility that will accommodate 500 new employees. Dallas architect Corgan oversaw design for the new complex.
KDC developed a 489,000-square-foot office complex for Raytheon at CityLine in Richardson in 2014.
KDC has a reputation for developing custom headquarters for some of the nation’s biggest companies and for government agencies, including Toyota Motor North America headquarters in Plano, the EDS (Electronic Data Systems) office in Allen, and the Federal Aviation Administration office in Fort Worth.
The Massachusetts-based company’s operations contribute $4.8 billion to the Texas economy, according to an economic impact study commissioned by Raytheon.
In 2018, the company directly employed more than 8,000 Texans. Supply chain activity and employee spending supported an additional 10,000 jobs throughout the state, a company press release stated. Raytheon is McKinney’s biggest employer.
“This is an investment in the talented McKinney workforce,” Roy Azevedo, president of Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, said in the release. “It shows we are serious about our presence in Texas and that we are here to stay.”
Local and state officials learned about Raytheon’s new construction project in an Aug. 22 announcement at the company campus.
“McKinney has always been proud to have the prominent presence of Raytheon as our largest employer and we are excited at the opportunity for new corporate expansion in McKinney,” McKinney Mayor George Fuller said in the news release.
“We have worked hard to build strong business relationships and create an environment that not only allows these businesses to grow but provides their employees with an incredible place to call home.”
The McKinney Economic Development Corp. adopted an incentives package estimated between $6 million and $7.5 million to support Raytheon’s local expansion, according to reports.
“Raytheon has a significant presence in the Texas economy,” said Michael Carroll, Economic Research Group director at the University of North Texas and lead author of the North Texas Economic Impact Study.
“When we examined employee wages and spending, supplier spending, tax revenues and other factors, we found Raytheon’s North Texas operations are a powerful economic engine.”
edmond@virtualbx.com
