Parkdale Mills has moved into its dramatic new world headquarters building on South New Hope Road in Gastonia, across from The City Club.

The 42,000-sq.-ft. building, two stories plus a partial basement on one downhill side, features a glass cone running from top to bottom in the center, symbolic of the firm's role as the world's largest independent yarn company. It was designed by LS3P Associates of Charlotte.

The building allows Parkdale to consolidate offices and operations previously spread across four buildings in the Gastonia area. In all about 100 upper management, administrative support and information technology personnel work there.

"We’re very pleased to be in the new building," said John Sarn, manager of real estate for Parkdale. "It’s very well planned and very well thought out. We hope it's going to make our business run more efficiently."

Although only the top of the glass cone is visible from outside, it illuminates the central lobby, which includes an area for displays. The lobby has maple floors cut in 10' X 4' sections from a century-old Parkdale mill and moved to the new headquarters. The floors were refinished but still show the circular marks of travelers and other textile components dropped on it years ago, creating patterns that look like artistic designs or nature's imprint. The sections are separated by polished black granite for added design interest. Golden maple walls rising two stories complement the maple floors.

"The Parkdale executives were very concerned that the building be an inviting place for everyone to work," said architect Pat Campbell. "We designed it from the inside out and gave everyone nice window views so it feels very open, almost transparent. It's a wonderful place for people to work in."

The building sits on about a fourth of a 24-acre office park. Parkdale officials said they would like to have other local companies at the site but are in no hurry.

Founded in 1918, Parkdale supplies yarn to manufacturers of jeans, towels, sweaters and hosiery.