(The Hayden Homes Support Center, located at 250 SE Timber Ave. in Redmond | Photo courtesy of Hayden Homes)
When Hayden Homes opened the doors to its new Support Center across from the Redmond Municipal Airport, the moment felt like coming home. The company’s roots run deep in Central Oregon, as Redmond is where Bob and Virginia Watson founded Hayden Homes in 1989 in a modest 1,000-square-foot model home. More than three decades later, that same pioneering spirit is alive and well in a modern, purpose-built workspace that honors the past while embracing the future.
“Building our new Support Center in Redmond represents a full-circle moment,” said Katy Wooderson, vice president of marketing and production for Hayden Homes. “The project also symbolizes a long-term investment in Redmond’s economic and social vitality.”
Redmond’s appeal as a business hub has grown significantly over the past decade, thanks in part to the city’s strategic leadership and the ongoing efforts of Redmond Economic Development, Inc. (REDI). Hayden Homes worked closely with REDI to identify and renovate an existing industrial property within the city’s state-sponsored Enterprise Zone, transforming it into a vibrant, collaborative Support Center that reflects the company’s culture and mission.
“Hayden Homes’ investment exemplifies the kind of long-term economic development that strengthens Redmond’s prosperity,” said Steve Curley, director of REDI. “By rehabilitating an existing industrial building, Hayden Homes contributed to local revitalization while creating jobs and reinforcing regional economic vitality.”
“The Hayden Homes Headquarters stands as a cornerstone project for Redmond, reflecting the city’s strong sense of community and continued growth,” said Steve Buettner, president, SunWest Builders, which led the building project. “The new facility provides high-quality professional workspace while showcasing Redmond as a place where businesses can confidently invest in both people and infrastructure. Projects like this help position Redmond as a vibrant business hub for all of Central Oregon.”
From Aircraft Parts to Heart of Operations
Once an aircraft-parts manufacturing facility, the building was completely reimagined. What was once a utilitarian industrial shell is now a bright, open space designed to inspire creativity, communication and connection.
The Support Center features open offices and flexible work areas that encourage collaboration while still providing quiet zones for focused work. Natural light floods the interior, softened by warm finishes and inviting materials that create a sense of balance between professionalism and comfort.
At the heart of the building is a floating mezzanine, a striking architectural centerpiece that houses meeting rooms and gathering spaces. From here, teams can overlook the main floor and engage in spontaneous collaboration. “It’s a place where collaboration happens naturally, whether it’s an impromptu hallway conversation, a team meeting overlooking the main floor, or a company event bringing everyone together,” Wooderson said.
Throughout the space, floor-to-ceiling art installations celebrate Hayden Homes’ Give As You Go philosophy. They serve as a constant visual reminder of the company’s purpose: to build not just homes, but communities. Each design decision, from the open layout to the communal spaces, was made with intention to foster a sense of togetherness among team members and visitors.
Revitalization and Community Building
Repurposing a former industrial facility was not just a matter of convenience. It was a statement of values. Hayden Homes chose to renovate rather than rebuild, breathing new life into a long-standing structure near the airport. This decision reduced the environmental impact typically associated with new construction, conserving materials and minimizing waste.
“By choosing to renovate rather than rebuild, Hayden Homes breathed new life into a long- standing industrial space,” said Wooderson. “Transforming a former aircraft parts manufacturing building into Hayden Homes’ new Support Center was a purposeful choice — one that reflects our deep commitment to community, revitalization and sustainable growth.”
The transformation of this once-underutilized site into a thriving business headquarters is a model of adaptive reuse. It demonstrates how companies can invest in their communities while minimizing environmental impact and symbolizes Hayden Homes’ long-term commitment to Central Oregon’s economic and social vitality.
“Hayden Homes’ mission is ‘Give As You Go’ so together we build a strong community and lead fulfilled lives.” That philosophy is woven into everything the company does, and acts as a framework for how business decisions, community partnerships and philanthropic efforts are made.
Every home the company builds contributes to something larger: the creation of stronger, more connected communities across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. Since its founding, Hayden Homes has generated $7.1 billion in local economic impact and created more than 99,000 jobs. The company and its charitable partners have donated more than $80 million to community organizations, with much of that generosity distributed through the company’s nonprofit, First Story.
First Story provides affordable homeownership opportunities for families who might otherwise be unable to buy a home. To date, more than 120 families have received homes through the program. The company also supports local nonprofit organizations, including Oasis Village, Redmond Senior Center, Deschutes Public Library’s Redmond branch, Shepherd’s House, The Giving Plate, Redmond Public Schools and the Heart of Oregon Corps.
A Great Place to Work, in a Great Place to Live
Hayden Homes is certified as a Great Place to Work and has also been recognized for similar honors by Fortune Magazine and Oregon Business Magazine. The recognition reflects a culture that values teamwork, well-being and purpose.
“Hayden Homes cultivates an environment where team members feel valued, supported and inspired,” said Wooderson. “Providing fulfilling careers that make a tangible impact, helping families achieve homeownership, strengthening communities and fostering collaboration .. is at the heart of who we are.”
The Support Center is an office for more than 100 Hayden team members across key disciplines for the company, including construction management, finance, human resources, marketing, design, technology and customer experience. These employees are part of a growing workforce that fuels Redmond’s local economy in countless ways, from morning coffee runs to downtown lunches and volunteer service throughout the community.
“When people live and work in Redmond, their presence creates a powerful ripple effect that strengthens every part of the local economy,” Wooderson said. “Daily spending at local shops, restaurants and service providers keeps dollars circulating within the community — whether it’s team members grabbing coffee downtown, having lunch at a local café, or hiring local contractors and landscapers.”
A Shared Story of Growth
Hayden Homes’ evolution mirrors Redmond’s own steady, values-driven growth. What began as a small local builder in 1989 has become the largest privately owned homebuilder in the Pacific Northwest. That growth has been made possible by the same qualities that define Redmond itself: hard work, collaboration and deep care for people.
“When Bob and Virginia Watson founded Hayden Homes … they built the company on the belief that success comes from giving more than you get,” said Wooderson. “That philosophy — now embodied in Give As You Go — mirrors Redmond’s own pioneering spirit: a city that continues to grow through hard work, collaboration and care for its people.”
For Hayden Homes, the Support Center is more than a corporate headquarters. It symbolizes a continuing commitment to Redmond and the broader Pacific Northwest, and enhancing the city as a hub for innovation, philanthropy and community engagement.
“Our investment in people, purpose and place keeps Hayden Homes connected to our roots,” said Wooderson. “As we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to finding even more ways to serve, collaborate and make a positive impact on the communities that have supported us since the very beginning.”
“Both Hayden Homes and SunWest Builders began in Redmond in 1989, making this headquarters a meaningful collaboration between two long-standing local companies,” said SunWest’s Buettner. “SunWest Builders is proud to have helped bring Hayden Homes’ vision to life, a headquarters that reflects their values, strengthens community ties and stands as a lasting investment in Redmond’s future.”
