The location was chosen by Siemens based on a number of factors, including a common centralized location to account for employees travelling from all directions, customer proximity, market requirements and commuter traffic exposure alongside the busy QEW highway. The company will also maintain a number of facilities in the surrounding area, including, Mississauga, Burlington and Stoney Creek. Overall, Siemens has 5,000 employees in 74 locations, including 13 manufacturing/assembly facilities across Canada.

"This building is an exciting step forward for Siemens and its employees in the region," said Roland Aurich, president and CEO, Siemens Canada. "The building will not only be a showcase for responsible building practices and Siemens' technologies, [but it] will also bring together hundreds of our employees under one roof, allowing for increased internal collaboration. There is also enormous potential for increased synergies with our customers and opportunity for sustainable growth in this new home. We look forward to becoming part of the Oakville community."

The new facility will be Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, making it best-in-class in recognizing "green" systems for buildings, the company said in a statement. The certification verifies that the building was designed and built using practices intended to improve performance in areas such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and respect for the environment. The building will also deploy the latest Siemens innovations when it comes to building automation and lighting technology - reflecting the company's commitment to the environment.

"Council and I are pleased that Siemens Canada has chosen the town of Oakville for its new corporate headquarters," said Mayor Rob Burton. "We look forward to welcoming Siemens and its employees, and to working together towards the shared goal of making Oakville more sustainable."

The facility will feature a conference centre and customer engagement showroom for meetings and demonstrations, along with a full cafeteria and numerous meeting spaces.

www.siemens.ca