BASF Opens New North American Headquarters

BASF Corporation, business partners, state officials, community representatives and neighbors today celebrated the official opening of BASF's new North American headquarters building at 100 Park Avenue in Florham Park, New Jersey. The 325,000 square foot building, developed in partnership with the Rockefeller Group Development Corporation at The Green at Florham Park, is designed to achieve LEED(R) double Platinum* certification. It features many BASF enabled construction solutions and is one of New Jersey's largest sustainable buildings.

"Our new headquarters stands as a tangible example of how BASF creates chemistry for a sustainable future," said Hans Engel, Chairman and CEO of BASF Corporation. "By incorporating the latest technologies and materials with smart design and sophisticated ergonomics, we will be protective of the environment while providing 1,400 employees with a healthy and safe work atmosphere where they can even better cooperate and collaborate."

"We're proud to deliver to BASF its new North American Headquarters and to move The Green at Florham Park another step closer to completion," said Kevin R. Hackett, President and CEO of The Rockefeller Group. "This building puts New Jersey on the map for leadership in sustainable design and construction."

"This is a substantial investment by BASF and a deep and strong commitment to New Jersey," said Lt. Governor Guadagno. "BASF chose to remain in New Jersey because of our resources, talent, diversity and vastly improved business climate and attitude. In Florham Park and facilities around New Jersey, BASF employs people in meaningful jobs to develop more energy efficient cars, improve health care, and find new ways to feed a growing world."

Lt. Gov. Guadagno was among a group of more than 200 guests invited to an official ribbon cutting ceremony. Also attending were U.S. Senator Bob Menendez; U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen; Former Governor and State Senator Richard Codey; other members of the NJ State Legislature; Morris County and Florham Park officials, including Mayor Scott Eveland, and Woody Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the New York Jets.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, Lt. Gov. Guadagno and other guests were given a tour of the new building which included a visit to the Innovation Center, a permanent display of BASF technologies, and a demonstration of Kids' Lab, the company's science education program for children ages 6 - 12.

Kids' Lab is designed to raise children's interest in chemistry through safe and engaging, hands-on experiments and help them understand the role that chemistry plays in the world around them. Thirty 5th grade students from Brooklake Elementary School in Florham Park experimented with methods of water purification while learning the importance of protecting the earth's finite water supply.

The day's activities also included BASF's "We create chemistry" world tour, a traveling showcase of the company's innovations to provide solutions for the challenges of the future, such as rising energy demands, the growing world population and society's high aspirations for quality of life.