That doesn’t mean the building has stayed the same. In fact, we’re celebrating a recent $750,000 renovation and additional $2 million investment in it because we think the future there is very bright.
Beginning in 1958, Building 51 was part of the American Optical campus, a major player in the U.S. optical industry headquartered in Southbridge. SCHOTT moved into the building, and became a member of the Southbridge community in 1986, when it acquired American Optical’s Fiber Optics division. Today the site makes night-vision components for the defense industry and flexible fiber optics for diagnostic medical equipment, such as endoscopes.
SCHOTT recently kicked off the next chapter in this storied building’s history. Together, executives and elected officials including SCHOTT North America President Greg Wolters; Jim Gareau, SCHOTT North America Vice President and General Manager for Lighting and Imaging; and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal unveiled a $750,000 renovation to offices in the building, and highlighted plans to hire nearly two dozen new employees at Building 51 and the SCHOTT Electronic Packaging plant that also operates in Southbridge.