French manufacturer stages an exhibit at Eakins Oval

Considering the praise that Mayor Nutter heaped on Saint-Gobain, one might think the French buildings materials manufacturer was building its new North American headquarters in Philadelphia, not 29 miles to the west in East Whiteland Township.

Instead, Nutter was at a Monday news conference in Center City to laud the Compagnie de Saint Gobain S.A. for bringing its "Future Sensations" exhibition to Philadelphia, where it can be visited on Eakins Oval through Saturday; for supporting education in science and construction in the city; and for helping to redesign John F. Kennedy Plaza.

"This is about the largest building materials company in the world partnering and having a presence in Philadelphia and in the Philadelphia region," he said. "They literally could be anywhere in the world. They chose to be here."

Saint-Gobain considered University City for its new corporate headquarters, to replace its longtime home in Valley Forge, but opted for a 65-acre site in Chester County because it was an easier commute for employees, said John Crowe, chief executive of Saint-Gobain's North American operations.

Saint-Gobain's ties to the Philadelphia region date to 1967, when it formed a joint venture with CertainTeed Corp., a roofing and insulation manufacturer. Saint-Gobain bought CertainTeed in stages, completing the acquisition in 1988.

The United States accounted for just $6.9 billion, or 12.5 percent, of Saint-Gobain's $55 billion in global revenue last year. That's not enough, given the size of the U.S. economy, said Pierre-André de Chalendar, Saint-Gobain's global chairman and chief executive, who was in Philadelphia to celebrate the firm's 350th anniversary.

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