CHERRY HILL, NJ — Subaru of America Inc. broke ground on its planned $118 million corporate headquarters in Camden, N.J. on Wednesday. The ground-breaking ceremony was conducted by a specially-produced Subaru Outback with an attached plow and featured a display of historic Subaru vehicles from the company’s 50 years in the Delaware Valley.

The new Subaru of American campus is being developed by Brandywine Realty Trust. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

“We are very excited to be moving this project forward as we seek to bring our family of employees together on one site,” said Thomas J. Doll, president and COO of Subaru of America. “This signing cements the long-term future of Subaru in the Delaware Valley and we are pleased that, after almost 50 years here, we can plan to continue to be part of the local community we have supported for so long.”

Subaru of America’s corporate headquarters have been in Cherry Hill, N.J.  since 1986. It also has two offices in Pennsauken, space at Executive Campus in Cherry Hill and a distribution and training center in Florence, N.J. The two offices will combine into the new headquarters campus, which will bring more than 600 employees and contractors to the city of Camden.

The new facility, at 250,000 square feet, plus an additional 83,000-square-foot building will be more than double the size of the automaker's current headquarters.

“This was made possible by a Grow NJ award, valued at nearly $118 million, an example of the good that can come when businesses team up with the state of New Jersey to create jobs,” said New Jersey Lt. Govern Kim Guadagno. “This project will have a net benefit of $167.9 million. Subaru will retain 600 jobs and create 100 new positions, and the company will make a matching capital investment into the facility.”