Hutton Construction building new headquarters in Delano – Wichita Eagle (blog)

The growing Hutton Construction needs more room for its world headquarters, as CEO Ben Hutton laughingly calls it, but thats not the chief reason the company is moving to Delano.

Also its about being in a community that I feel is exciting and vibrant, Hutton says.

He cites the citys catalyst project, the new library, River Vista apartments and potential stadium and other redevelopment in the area as appealing attractions.

Theres just a lot going on here, and so its exciting to be right in the middle of that. Thats fun for our current employees, and its also I think really going to be a big part of our ability to attract our future workforce as well. Thats as important as having more space to me.

Hutton plans a new 30,000-square foot office and additional two-level parking garage just behind a row of Douglas storefronts between Sycamore and Oak streets.

Were excited about this particular site because it sits between historic Delano and the new modern developments of the catalyst site and the library, and so we get to kind of be the transition, which is really interesting for us architecturally, and from a construction standpoint its fun, Hutton says. It gives us a lot of freedom to do things that recognize history and blend in with whats here in Delano and kind of the fabric of the community and also represent the future and where were going as a business in the modern side of the building as well.

The current sort of conglomeration of buildings on the property, which Hutton will demolish, has an Oak Street address. The new building, the front of which will be visible from the Delano clock tower, will have a Sycamore address.

The parking structure will have a more traditional look with some brick and stone that blends in with what you see up and down Douglas, Hutton says. As the property transitions into offices, he says it will be more modern with steel and concrete and some of the things that are more exciting to us and kind of represent where the building industry is going

In between we see this opportunity for this really cool landscaped corridor that kind of softens the whole property and gives some great amenity to the office with lots of seating and outdoor areas.

Hutton, who at 36 is on the cusp of being a millennial, says people in his generation work differently.

Theyre attracted to different environments, he says. Its becoming more and more important that you can offer a whole package, not just a great job.

The firm currently is in 15,000 square feet in a more industrial area at 2229 S. West St. where there arent a lot of restaurants.

Thats actually part of the reason why were excited to move down here to Delano because theres so many more options for lunch and after work and meeting people, Hutton says.

Hutton Construction has 240 employees, about 65 of which will be in the Delano office.

Most of our employees are scattered around Kansas and surrounding states, Hutton says of the 25 to 30 job sites the company has at any given time.

The firm also has a separate yard facility that it will keep when it moves.

Weve moved a lot as a company as weve grown and always think we are building enough space for growth, and then we fill it up and have to expand or remodel, Hutton says. Hopefully this time well get enough space built that we can stay for 20 years. Thats the goal.

He says in addition to having extra room in the new headquarters, he also owns the former Crawleys Office Furniture building at the northeast corner of Oak and Douglas. Hell lease that space and any extra in his building.

Hutton expects construction to begin early next year.

Thats when we have some people maybe available. Pretty busy right now.

He says hes not in a rush.

When it makes sense to start, well start. Im anxious to start only because its exciting.

Huttons father, Mark, started the company in 1992, and a 12-year Ben Hutton joined the following year sweeping floors. He eventually became a carpenter and laborer and went to work for a Colorado Springs company after graduating from K-State. Hutton returned to his familys business full time in 2006 then became president in 2010 before becoming CEO in October.

In addition to looking forward to a space that can support Hutton Construction for the next couple of decades, Hutton says he likes the idea of being in an old but becoming new part of our city.

Its our hope that we can inspire some other businesses to move down here.

Hutton says daytime activity is important for Delano, which means businesses and jobs.

Were excited to kind of play that part in this community.

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Hutton Construction building new headquarters in Delano - Wichita Eagle (blog)