Aviva Breaks Ground On U.S. Headquarters

A multinational insurer is building a new operations center in the Midwest.

Aviva USA, West Des Moines, Iowa, a unit of Aviva P.L.C., London, today held a ceremony to mark the start of construction of a $150 million, 360,000-square-foot headquarters building in West Des Moines.

Aviva P.L.C. acquired AmerUs Group Company, Des Moines, Iowa, in 2006.

Since then, the acquired operations have added 280 jobs in the Des Moines area, according to Aviva USA.

Aviva USA now employs 900 people in the Des Moines area, and the new headquarters building can accommodate 1,500 employees, the company says.

The new building will comply with the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Green Building guidelines.

To compensate for loss of trees at the construction site, Aviva USA is donating $50,000 to a tree planting foundation.