La Porte, Indiana —The New York Blower Company celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters and park on October 21, marking a milestone in the company’s 136-year history. The project was brought to life through a seamless collaboration between Larson-Danielson Construction and Facet Architecture, a design-build team known for its craftsmanship, innovation, and strong community ties.
Located at 171 Factory Street, the new facility consolidates New York Blower’s previously dispersed staff into a single space designed to foster communication, innovation, and collaboration across departments.
“The building is there, first and foremost, to put all of our office staff together in one place,” said New York Blower President & CEO Tim O’Hare. “We’re not a work-from-home company. You can’t weld from home. Maybe you can design something from home, but you really can’t do that properly unless you’ve gotten your hands on equipment in the factory. Not only are we a work-from-the-office kind of place, but we also really depend on our culture having a lot of collaboration. You can’t do that when that means running across the street or running over the lab for some engineering people.”
Though headquartered in Chicago, La Porte remains New York Blower’s true home. The company’s deep local roots stretch back more than a century, and O’Hare emphasized the symbolic and practical significance of expanding in the same city where its story began.
“Over the years, we have manufactured in five other states, but there’s no question in our minds that our home is here in La Porte, and there’s no better way to show that than by putting a shovel down and producing something that demonstrates that we’re staying here,” said O’Hare. “It’s no small thing to have a privately owned company, which was essentially owned by the same family that formed it 136 years ago. All of this honors the Mathis family and those who built this business for the last 136 years.”
The new facility not only represents growth but also honors the company’s founders, shareholders, and employees past and present. The design includes special features such as the 25-Year Pavilion, a dedicated space celebrating employees who have served with the company for a quarter century or longer.
Facet Architecture designed the building and adjacent park with creativity and purpose—ensuring that every detail reflects the company’s industrial heritage and identity.
“We wanted people to understand what the company does when they go into the building. When the New York Blowers have a featured presentation here, visitors can see that their impact is everywhere,” said Robin Witte, lead architect at Facet Architecture. “If you look at the park from above, it’s in the shape of a blower, so even Google Maps is able to tell what they do here. It is the same inside. We had ideas for the railing that would feature some elements of the blowers as well. We actually have blowers that are part of light fixtures, so they are all over the place. The fountain has blowers, too. Those little details just bring it home.”
From custom light fixtures incorporating blower components to the symbolic design of the park, the facility celebrates the company’s products and people alike. Every element was crafted to reflect the innovation and precision that define New York Blower’s work in air movement technology.
The project is also a testament to the long-standing relationship between New York Blower and Larson-Danielson Construction. The two have collaborated on numerous projects over the decades, creating a foundation of trust that allowed this major design-build effort to run smoothly.
“Larson-Danielson has been a long-term partner, so when we approached them to do this, they pulled the 1977 plans and the 1996 edition. We’ve worked with them for many years,” said New York Blower Vice President of Finance Tim Daniels. “Larson-Danielson—along with Facet Architecture, which serves as their design firm—have been great partners and have been our rock through all of this. It’s been a lot of fun working with both teams.”
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The Larson-Danielson and Facet Architecture team managed every phase of the project—from concept and design through construction—ensuring that both functionality and aesthetics aligned with the company’s operational goals and cultural vision.
Beyond serving as a workplace, the new campus strengthens New York Blower’s commitment to La Porte’s economic and community development. The facility brings together modern office and production spaces, green landscaping, and symbolic design features that reflect the company’s deep connection to its employees and hometown.
For the City of La Porte, the project represents both economic confidence and a reinvestment in local industry. For New York Blower, it’s a physical manifestation of its belief in teamwork, craftsmanship, and the enduring value of keeping roots close to home.
The new headquarters stands as a modern reflection of a company that continues to balance tradition and innovation. With its enhanced work environment, collaborative spaces, and tribute to the people who have shaped its legacy, New York Blower’s new facility embodies the company’s commitment to excellence for the next century and beyond.
For more information about Larson-Danielson Construction, visit ldconstruction.com.
Originally reported by Aubrey Thomson in Great News. Life
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