Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl. Inc.

This past year, Pioneer Hi-Bred's facilities development department took one of the industry's highest honors - the Golden Circles Award.

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Houston, bestows the award upon organizations whose facility management practices contribute to creating and managing productive work environments and support the objectives of the company's business plan.

Pioneer Hi-Bred operates a total of 2.3 million square feet of facility space in 140 locations that house 4,300 people worldwide. It caught IFMA's attention by using partnering concepts with outside consultants and vendors to meet its primary facilities-related business goal: ensuring sites, buildings, furnishings, and equipment are properly planned, developed, and installed to maximize company assets while providing an inviting and effective work environment.

Members of the company's facilities development team meet regularly with the company's Corporate Management Committee and the Research Management Team to discuss strategic plans involving office buildings, laboratories, conference centers, research centers, and sales offices.

Pioneer Hi-Bred officials are so proud of the company's facilities that they use them as a recruitment tool, further highlighting the facilities department's success in providing its internal clients with attractive spaces designed to support their work.
The biggest accomplishment to-date? When a fire destroyed 45,000 square feet of research greenhouse space, Pioneer was able to rebuild greenhouses within 60 percent of the time of a normal construction schedule. What's more, the new greenhouses have two patent applications pending, thanks to their state-of-the art construction and function.