The Opus Group is building another corporate office for Xcel Energy, this time in Texas.

The Minnetonka-based commercial real estate company began construction today on the $42-million office building in Amarillo, Texas, less than a month after topping off a new tower at Xcel's corporate headquarters in downtown Minneapolis.

"We're thrilled to have earned more business with Xcel Energy," said Phil Cattanach, director of real estate development for Opus Development Co., the development branch of The Opus Group.

"Our early commitment to price and certainty of outcome provided Xcel Energy the confidence to select Opus for their new office headquarters in Amarillo. This project is a testament to how Opus' unique design-build platform provides excellent turnkey service for clients throughout the country."

The seven-story Amarillo facility will house 525 employees and will offer a small amount of ground-level retail space.

"Xcel Energy is in a period of historic growth across its Texas-New Mexico service area, and most of the work is being directed from our downtown Amarillo offices," said David Hudson, president of Southwestern Public Service Company, an Xcel Energy company.