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Nov. 26--Volkswagen Group of America announced today that it has leased three floors of the Chestnut Tower in downtown Chattanooga to house its plant leaders, administrative support functions and purchasing division.
VW, which is building a $1 billion assembly plant at the Enterprise South industrial park, will retain its office space on Discovery Drive to support positions related to plant construction.
"This announcement is another sign of the continued growth and progress of our Tennessee production facility," VW Communications Director Jill Bratina said in a prepared statement. "Our employee base will grow in the next three to six months and this lease ensures we have the space necessary for our new hires."
The 17-story Chestnut Tower, built and still owned by developer Franklin L. Haney, was leased by Unum Corp. through last August.
"Chestnut Tower is an ideal space for conducting business with the greater Chattanooga community," said Eric Carlson, director of group marketing, real estate and affiliates for VW. "Franklin L. Haney Co. has been a fantastic partner and we look forward to a very productive relationship with them in this central and convenient location."
Renovations to the space are currently in progress and Volkswagen expects to move into Chestnut Tower by February 2009.
