Ferguson Seeks State-of-the-Art Corporate Headquarters Site

Room to Grow

Beginning as a small local distributor, Ferguson established its corporate headquarters in Newport News in the 1950s. Now, over six decades later, Ferguson has grown into a $15 billion company with over 1,400 locations and more than 24,000 employees nationwide. But by 2014, Ferguson’s headquarters had swelled beyond capacity, and the company still needed to hire more employees to keep up with growth.

A Helping Hand From Hampton Roads 

Ferguson already had a long history and proven track record of success in Hampton Roads. And while the company initially considered moving operations to other states, the assets Hampton Roads boasts and Virginia’s ever-expanding talent base proved to be stronger than any competitor. But one sticking point remained: the Commonwealth needed to provide an office fit to serve as a major corporation’s headquarters. 

Soon, all eyes turned to the City Center district.

The Newport News Effect

As Ferguson’s search progressed, Newport News continued to envision the kind of high-profile owner that should occupy the fourth quadrant in City Center at Oyster Point. This 52-acre, high-density, mixed-use development features retail shops, restaurants, and class-A office space, all located in the heart of the Peninsula. 

It didn’t take long for Ferguson to identify the City Center space, and it didn’t take long for Newport News to recognize this Virginia-based business as the ideal owner they had been looking for. It was a perfect fit.

Ferguson is deeply rooted in the Commonwealth, and we have been proud to call Virginia home for more than 60 years.

Kevin Murphy, CEO, Ferguson

Making the Pitch

Newport News focused its pitch on City Center’s ability to accommodate the company’s growth and support their efforts to recruit and retain new employees. City Center could provide Ferguson’s team with access to a variety of amenities, including direct and convenient access to restaurants, retail spaces, and personal services.

Homeward Bound

In June 2017, Ferguson announced its plans to remain in Virginia and grow its corporate headquarters in Newport News. The company invested $82.8 million, created 434 new jobs, and retained over 1,000 existing positions. They broke ground in 2018, completed the state-of-the-art, 260,000-square-foot facility in 2020, and welcomed employees in 2021.

Thanks to the ease of accessibility and essential amenities offered in City Center, the high-quality workforce provided by Newport News, and Hampton Road’s business-friendly environment, Ferguson chose to stay in Virginia, and the Commonwealth is proud to have this successful company continue to call Newport News home.