WEST FARGO, N.D. —  Bobcat Co. and parent organization Doosan have broken ground on a $9.5 million company headquarters expansion in West Fargo, N.D.

Company officials say the expansion to the existing facility will help accommodate growth, drive innovation and improve operations, which are all key to maintaining global leadership.

“This is an exciting time at Bobcat Co. and Doosan, as we continue to grow in North Dakota,” said Rich Goldsbury, president of Bobcat Co. and Doosan North America. “This investment is about maintaining our leadership position in the compact equipment industry, driving more heavy equipment business growth, and creating an environment where innovation and forward thinking will generate the next best ideas.”

The current headquarters — built in 2000 — houses individuals within several departments of business administration, as well as product development and marketing communications for Bobcat Company and Doosan, a heavy equipment brand. The expansion will double square footage and employee capacity, and Bobcat and Doosan will pursue LEED certification for the facility in both design and construction.

Last year, Bobcat and Doosan opened the exciting new Acceleration Center in Bismarck, N.D., a facility focused on engineering, R&D, training and product testing. Other North Dakota Bobcat and Doosan facilities have undergone renovations over the last two years.

The expansion is slated for completion in late summer 2016. Bobcat Co. has four other North Dakota facilities: its primary manufacturing plant in Gwinner; an attachments production facility in Bismarck; the new Acceleration Center in Bismarck; and a support factory in Wahpeton. The West Fargo expansion will enable Bobcat Co. and Doosan to bring together employees currently working at different locations in the Fargo area. Bobcat will maintain its presence at the North Dakota State University Technology and Research Park, a partnership in place since 2005.

The expansion also fits with Bobcat Co.’s commitment to fields related to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), which has been a major initiative for Bobcat and Doosan, the state of North Dakota and the region.

“We plan to create an environment that helps us attract and retain talented team members focused on helping to move our company forward,” Goldsbury said. “The building will offer state-of-the art facilities for collaboration and independent working, similar to what we’ve done at the Acceleration Center in Bismarck.”

The $28 million Acceleration Center project last year involved expansion of an existing building in Bismarck to include office and lab space, classrooms and demonstration areas, and both indoor and outdoor machine operating areas. The Acceleration Center has been lauded for its innovative workspaces and technology. The expanded headquarters building will see many of the same features, and it will be a continued model for how all Bobcat and Doosan facilities will function.

“This is an ongoing investment and process,” Goldsbury said. “We’ll continue to make enhancements that help us maintain our leadership in the industry. Our people and products are second to none; we want our facilities to be the same.”