Fluor says LEAP construction is under way in Lebanon; cites cold-weather delays, new safety and community efforts

Fluor Corporation representatives told listeners on a Feb. 2025 Lebanon City podcast that construction at the Eli Lilly LEAP campus on the city’s north side is making steady progress but remains behind the original schedule because of extreme winter weather.

Todd Dando, a Fluor Corporation representative, said “we're currently just under 10%… we're probably somewhere around the 8% complete, on construction,” and that “the design for the project is over 50% now, nearing 60%.” He told host Joe LePage the project is about a month to two months behind schedule because of cold weather and that 2025 will be the year the team attempts to make up that time.

The update matters to Lebanon because the LEAP campus is a large biotech investment in the region that will affect local traffic, employment and nearby residents. Fluor, which is serving as a construction contractor on the project, described steps to protect workers, support morale and maintain relations with immediately adjacent neighbors.

Dando and Jeff Wagner, both identified on the podcast as Fluor Corporation representatives, said workforce numbers are climbing. Wagner recounted a recent site visit that showed about 950 people on site and said the project has now hit a roughly 1,000-person milestone. Dando estimated the site could rise to “well over 3,000” employees on site at peak during the coming months as the project shifts from earthwork and concrete to mechanical, electrical and piping trades.

Project milestones reported on the podcast included a recent building topping out, an elevated deck pour, the reopening of the site’s southern access (referred to on the podcast as Gate C), and progress in the central utilities building, where crews have completed slab-on-grade work and are preparing pads and equipment installation.

Both speakers described how cold weather affected the winter schedule and worker safety measures implemented to reduce risk. Dando said work can be halted when temperatures drop below certain thresholds and described on-site measures: heated, enclosed canteens, enforced breaks and distribution of warm beverages and soup. He said the team supplied “close to a thousand people with warm soups and beverages” during a recent cold snap. Wagner added that a rewards-and-recognition program and items such as heated jackets have helped morale.

Wagner described community outreach and fence-line neighbor engagement: Fluor and Eli Lilly held fence-line barbecues and offered one-on-one tours for nearby neighbors, and they maintain a direct phone contact for local questions. Wagner said Fluor delivered what he described as about 1,000 presents to Hope Community Church and that employee and partner donations added roughly $15,000 to buy additional gifts for the holiday program. On the podcast he said, “we came out there, we had 3 pickup trucks full of toys… so about a thousand presents altogether we were able to drop off in early December.”

The company said it is prioritizing local vendors for services and expects to open a Fluor satellite office in Lebanon’s Bottle Works area to retain local hires after construction. Dando and Wagner said many craft workers and trade partners have volunteered for community drives and local events.

No formal actions, votes or approvals were discussed on the podcast. The update focused on construction status, short-term scheduling risk from weather, safety measures for workers, and community relations activities.

For more information, the city of Lebanon hosts related project updates on its website and provides a reporting link for concerns that neighbors raise, the podcast host noted.