SAS, the Cary-based analytics firm, is preparing for future growth by planning a new nine-story office tower with a full service cafe and a customer meeting space, a company spokeman says.

The “Building A” project is expected to be more than 400,000 square feet on a 38.5 acre site at the SAS headquarters campus in Cary. It will be across from Building C near the back exit of the SAS campus.

Clearing of the site and construction is set to begin in late 2015 with completion targeted for 2019.

The current proposal, which the spokesman notes is “subject to change,” includes a nine-floor design similar to Building Q on the SAS campus. SAS seeks high-level LEED certification for the building.