In five weeks, 15 ironworkers built the three-story steel frame of Campbell Soup's new world headquarters in Camden, New Jersey.

It was a proud moment for Derric Giles, an apprentice with Ironworkers Local 399, when a crane hoisted the final beam draped in the American flag to the top of the structure.

"I was scared at first, but I got used to it real fast," said Giles about the first day last month when he took baby steps on slippery, four-inch wide beams.

"I'm honored to be part of it and to put my name on that last beam."

The final beam carried signatures from about 1,000 employees and the Ironworkers.

Today, the Camden campus is largely administrative and home to research and development of new products for the global company. About 1,200 full-timers and 500 independent contractors work there.

"The work is on time and on budget. We're very pleased," said Carlos Del Sol, Campbell's manager for the construction project expected to be completed by next spring.

The new building, which essentially is an upgrade of Campbell's existing headquarters, is part of a larger $113 million project, unveiled more than two years ago, that gives the soup maker control over approximately 110 acres between its existing campus and Admiral Wilson Boulevard.

About 60 acres will be used for open space and construction of a 200,000-square-foot office tower on Admiral Wilson Boulevard to be leased to another corporate tenant. Camden City Council named Campbell master developer of the 110-acre space.

"We are investing $90 million in the project," said Anthony Sanzio, corporate spokesman.

Public investment also is substantial. City, county, state and the Delaware River Port Authority are contributing $23.5 million to upgrade roads and utilities.

Source: Eileen Stilwell, Courier-Post Online