Navistar HQ will employ more than 3,000

Navistar is preparing to bring thousands of workers to its new international headquarters in Lisle.

At the end of May, more than 200 employees from the company’s defense business unit are slated to move to the top floor of the former Alcatel-Lucent building along Warrenville Road. Other departments will follow in a series of moves planned throughout the rest of year and into early 2012.

Don Sharp, Navistar’s vice president and chief information officer, said the company eventually will have about 3,000 employees and several hundred contractors working at the roughly 87-acre campus.

“We’re getting incredibly excited because it’s now starting to become real,” Sharp said Tuesday. “We’re actually starting to see the vision take place, so it’s very exciting.”

Construction crews since January have been doing interior renovations to the campus’ buildings. Outside work, including parking lot improvements and landscaping, is expected to pick up next month.

“Every step we take, we get a little bit closer to achieving our vision,” Sharp said.

During a Tuesday night open house hosted by Navistar, Lisle Village President Joe Broda said it’s been nearly two years since he first learned of the company’s plans to move.

In that time, Navistar pulled back from two previous proposals and neighbors fought the company over a proposed engine-testing facility.

But once Navistar decided to build the testing facility elsewhere, the neighbors agreed not to oppose the site becoming a special taxing district that allows the use of some of the company’s property taxes for infrastructure improvements. Navistar finalized its purchase of the campus in November.

“This was the location that best fit them,” said Broda, adding the campus has 1.2 million square feet of office space.

He said the deal ensures that the main building, which is known for its massive satellite dish-shaped facade, will be properly maintained.

“When you are talking about $110 million worth of improvements to this campus, that’s a lot of money,” Broda said. “This is a showcase building, and they’re going to make it better.”

Tuesday night’s open house was the second in a series of events Navistar is hosting to keep the community informed about the company’s plans.

“There is a lot of interest in what we are doing,” Sharp said. “And the community is incredibly supportive of what we’re doing.”

Broda said part of that is because area hotels, restaurants and other businesses will benefit from having Navistar in Lisle. “It’s good for the region,” he said.

Meanwhile, Navistar officials say the company wants to do its part to help the village. Last week, Navistar presented a shuttle bus to the Lisle Park District for its senior trip program. It also has given Lisle police and the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District permission to do training exercises at the campus.