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Mosaic on schedule, meets and greets new neighbors

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By PAUL CATALA THE FISHHAWKER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 30, 2009

As the time to swing open the doors at The Mosaic Company's new corporate headquarters near FishHawk Ranch draws near, company representatives say everything is on track. Meanwhile, area residents are already getting to know their soon-to-be corporate neighbors.

During a Mosaic fertilizer company October open-house reception at FishHawk Ranch, local homeowners were given insight into the impact the multi-billion-dollar company would have on the area.

As residents and guests mingled with Mosaic representatives in FishHawk Ranch's Palmetto Club, the scope of the impact the company would have as the anchor of the newly-developed Circa FishHawk community off FishHawk Boulevard, a quarter-mile east of Boyette Road, could be seen.

Scheduled to be finished on a 7.4-acre tract by spring 2010, the $20 million, 110,000-square-foot headquarters will house more than 200 Mosaic employees, who will be relocated from Mosaic offices in Riverview, Netpark Tampa Bay in east Tampa and Mosaic's Pierce Administrative Office in Mulberry-Fort Lonesome.

At the open house, Mosaic employees who also happen to be FishHawk residents said they were happy to now have an office around the corner from home.

Brian and Pamela Baylor - who've lived in FishHawk with their sons, Owen, 6 and Spencer, 4, since Oct. 2002 - have spent 12 1/2 years with Mosaic in its Riverview office. Both employees said they're looking forward to the shorter commute, giving them more time with their family.

"The time I spend with my family is priceless," said Pamela Baylor. "The new move will allow me more quality time with my family and in my community."

At the open house, some of the Mosaic employees chatted with their new neighbors. They also met local merchants, who are eagerly anticipating the new business that the headquarters may bring.

Dave Townsend, Mosaic assistant vice-president of public affairs, said all is on schedule to get the first employees moved in by the first week of February 2010. He said by March, all furniture should be in and the final interior and exterior work should be completed.

Townsend, who's been with Mosaic for four years working in Mulberry, said by early December, computer networking systems should be in place and workstations should be installed the following month. He said the community should be proud of the development's gold "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" Green Building rating when it'd done.

"I think the steering committee and the employees will all be thrilled with it," he said. "It will be such a departure from the buildings they currently occupy."

The project was developed by Ryan Companies, a national design-build company with offices in Tampa. The company designed the building with a high reflectivity, low heat-gain glazing to maintain low heat loads on the mechanical system and decreases utility demand. It also allows employees exposure to natural daylight, increasing productivity and decreases lost work due to illness.

Gary Bauler, vice-president of development for Ryan, said the Mosaic project is "a little ahead of schedule" and the cost slightly less than anticipated due to the national economy.

"It's going to be a great building and everything has gone smoothly since we were approached by Mosaic in early 2004," he said.

Once opened, Mosaic will anchor the anticipated Village Center park and help boost a planned residential development, Circa FishHawk, south of it where 1,800 homes are planned.

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