It’s official – ground has been broken on the new First Orion Global Headquarters. The new building, located on the 500 block of Main Street in North Little Rock, will be a multi-story, multi-million-dollar building and the anchor to the new Argenta Plaza. The 60,000 sq. ft. office building will allow First Orion to continue to grow at a rapid pace. For our CEO Charles Morgan, building new headquarters is about more than just housing hundreds of employees – it’s also about building a community in the Argenta District.
“Part of the work environment is not just what’s in the building, but it’s also what’s around the building,” said Morgan at Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony. “We are helping to transform the region into a prominent technology hub and we are honored to be such a big part of the Argenta Plaza where we will not only build our technology but also build careers.”
“The spirit of innovation is alive in the Argenta district; a community wherein big, brave ideas are given the chance to grow unfettered,” said Joe Smith, Mayor of North Little Rock. “We’re pleased to welcome First Orion into its new space as we continue to foster technological drive and ingenuity in our thriving neighborhood.”
North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith; First Orion CEO Charles Morgan; John Owens, CEO of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce; John Rutledge, vice president of First Security Bank; Bill Gray, CEO of Taggart Architects; and Sam Alley, CEO of VCC, the contractor for the project, attended the groundbreaking. Taggart Architects is assisting lead architect Stephen Rousseau with the project.
The building will take about a year to complete, with construction beginning at the end of August. Plans for the Plaza adjacent to the building include a free-standing water wall, fountains, an audiovisual screen wall and a “front port” with swings. And First Orion won’t be the only new kid on the block; the Thrive Argenta apartments are nearing completion (many First Orion employees have already reserved their spot!), a $10 million office building will be built at 600 Main St., and a $10 million, 15,000 sq. ft. restaurant and residences project is going in to the north.
