J.B. Hunt opens 144,000-square-foot corporate tower

J.B. Hunt Transport Services has completed construction of a nearly 144,000-square-foot office building at its corporate headquarters east of Interstate 49 in Lowell.

On Friday (July 28), the carrier announced the four-story building, which can accommodate more than 1,200 employees, “is fully operational and houses highway services, sales and e-commerce, among other departments,” according to a news release. The building includes a food and beverage market on the ground-level terrace, a 350-seat auditorium and 24-hour gym for employees. It also includes a driver wall of recognition, honoring the more than 3,300 drivers who have driven more than 1 million safe miles for the company since 1971.

The new building also has access to new walking trails that will connect to the Razorback Regional Greenway, and features a 24-hour gym for employees that includes new cardio and weight equipment, group exercise rooms, lockers and showers.

Construction of the building started in September 2015, and Nabholz completed the project. Miller Boskus Lack Architects was the architect. The carrier’s corporate headquarters now includes more than 494,000 square feet.

“The space complements the recent launch of Marketplace for J.B. Hunt 360 and the company’s five-year, $500 million investment into technology and innovation,” the release shows. “As the company works toward developing next-generation supply chain solutions, the new building’s atmosphere will help foster ides of transformation to better serve the needs of customers.”

Lowell Mayor Eldon Long said the city is “blessed to have a Fortune 500 company headquartered here.” The continued expansion of the company’s corporate headquarters “continues to bring job opportunities here.”

“Their strong commitment to growing a global freight transportation company has contributed to their success,” Long said. “The city is proud to have them anchored here.”

On July 17, the company reported earnings fell 6% to $97.9 million, or 88 cents per share, in the second quarter that ended June 30, from the same period in 2016. Revenue rose 7% to $1.73 billion.

Shares of J.B. Hunt (NASDAQ: JBHT) were trading at $91.02, up 17 cents or 0.19%, Friday morning. In the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $102.38 and $76.20.