Beacon Partners has begun construction on Corning’s optical headquarters in Riverbend Village near Hwy. 16 and 485. The $38 million project will house some 650 employees who work in Corning’s largest business.

The New York-based manufacturing giant is adding 410 jobs in Cabarrus and Catawba counties. It already employs more than 3,000 people at five sites in North Carolina. It plans to add 200 jobs at Corning Inc. in Cabarrus County, and create 210 jobs at Corning Optical Communications in Catawba, where the company is building a $67 million plant.

Beacon Partners, one of the largest privately held owners of office and industrial buildings in the Carolinas, is building the six-story headquarters building in Riverbend. Corning’s new home will also feature a high-performance, all-optical network to showcase its optical fiber and wireless technologies.

The project will have a park-like atmosphere with walking trails and pathways for use by employees, residents and area visitors, “reflecting Corning’s commitment to sustainability and community.”

“At Corning, total quality is one of our guiding principles. Our success as the global leader in our industry depends on it,” said Clark Kinlin, executive vice president, Corning Optical Communications. “We co-innovate with our partners to design and build the world’s highest-performing telecommunications networks. Beacon Partners has a history of developing best-in-class office spaces and we’re excited to co-innovate with them as they build our new home in Charlotte.”

Corning is relocating its Optical Communications headquarters from Hickory, where it will continue operating several manufacturing facilities. “The headquarters move is designed to enhance Corning’s long-term growth and strengthen its competitive position globally as the world’s only end-to-end manufacturer and supplier of optical solutions and the largest fiber producer with the lowest-cost manufacturing platform,” they said in a press release.

Beacon manages and leases more than 7 million square feet of property throughout the Carolinas.