By Marty Mulcahy
Editor

LANSING - In a way, the Jackson National Life Insurance Co. has purchased a good insurance policy for itself. The nation's 20th largest insurance company insured a quality job by entering into a project agreement with construction manager Granger Construction Co. and building trades unions to construct their new world headquarters building.

A DRAIN PIPE gets the measure of Bart Anderson of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 333 and Shaw-Winkler He was working at the Jackson National Life Headquarters.

"We're right on schedule for occupancy," said Bill Vincent, director of facilities management. "The steel and concrete work are clearly at the level of quality that we expected when we entered into the project agreement." The four-story, 317,000 square-foot building at I-96 and Okemos Rd. will replace the Jackson National's existing HQ six miles away in Lansing. The new building, which began in February 1999, will consolidate six business sites into one location for 1,200 workers. "With so much new business and steady growth during the last five years, JNL has outgrown its current building," said Robert P. Saltzman the company's president and CEO. The project is expected to be complete in November 2000. Last week, the steel was about one-third complete, concrete was being poured, drainage pipe installation was ongoing, and earth was being moved all over the site. Jackson National Life has more than 1.7 million policies and $40 billion in assets.