Ford Announces Sweeping Plan to Transform Dearborn Campus

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DEARBORN, MI – Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday announced a sweeping, 10-year plan to redevelop its Dearborn campus and relocate 30,000 employees from 70 buildings, many of which are more than 60 years old, into two locations.

Many of the existing buildings will be demolished and replaced with more than 7.5 million square feet of work space in technology-enabled and connected buildings. Ford said the modern, green and high campus will be designed to foster innovation and help drive the company’s transition to an auto and mobility company.

Construction of the new product campus begins this month at the Ford Research and Engineering Center, and the majority of work is expected to be complete by 2023.

Major work on the second campus around Ford World Headquarters off Michigan Avenue begins in 2021 and is expected to be complete in 2026.

Smart Mobility at Product Campus

The new product campus will be a walkable community with paths, trails and covered walkways, and also will serve as a pilot location for Ford Smart Mobility solutions, including autonomous vehicles, on-demand shuttles and eBikes to transport employees.

The all-new, more-than-700,000-square-foot Design Center will be the focal point of the campus and include new studios and an outdoor design courtyard. The historic 14,000-square-foot Ford Design Showroom will remain and will be upgraded to be used as an event venue.

Ford said the new buildings will reduce energy use by about half, save water and include a new zero-waste, zero-energy, zero-water Sustainability Showcase building.

The second campus will feature a Ford Credit facility and provide onsite employee services, improved connectivity and enhanced accessibility to the expansive green space that surrounds the building.

Ford World Headquarters Campus

The current Ford World Headquarters building was dedicated in 1956 and reflects thought-leading architecture of that time. When campus renovation begins in 2021, care will be taken to retain the iconic image of the building while providing both exterior and interior enhancements.

The new campus will include:

• More than 1.3 million square feet of reworked space;
• A new Ford Credit facility connected to World Headquarters, forming a more cohesive, employee-friendly campus;
• Improved connectivity, walkways, covered parking decks and outdoor recreation facilities, including softball and soccer fields, and
• Enhanced green spaces with planted areas, native species and tree canopy, including the renewal of the Arjay Miller Arboretum started in 1960.

All employees in the World Headquarters campus, including senior executives, will have better technologically connected facilities and open work spaces, creating a collaborative environment. In the near term, both Ford World Headquarters and Ford Credit facilities will receive updates to common areas, including a modern cafe at World Headquarters.

LEED Certification

Throughout the two campuses, increased building insulation, new glazing systems, state-of-the-art lighting and daylighting, and heat recovery will reduce overall energy use in new buildings by approximately 50 percent annually. Overall potable water use will be significantly reduced through advanced water fixture selection, metering and process enhancements.

“Just as the Rouge manufacturing renovation completed in 2003 set a new standard for sustainability, we expect to do the same as we transform our campuses into a modern, efficient complex that enhances the environment,” said Bill Ford, Ford executive chairman. “This project incorporates thoughtful ways to improve the environmental footprint of our facilities, while creating a vibrant workplace that inspires our employees.”

The company anticipates all renovated facilities on both campuses will achieve at a minimum silver certification through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design process. All new construction is planned to meet LEED Gold certification standards, including sustainable material selection and material ingredient transparency.

The new buildings will have high-performance energy systems incorporating daylighting, solar orientation, natural airflow ventilation and heat recovery. An advanced storm water management system will capture, clean and reduce storm water run-off, while a greening of the site will include more planted areas and native species, a tree canopy and natural rain retention areas.

Campus Design

SmithGroupJJR designed the new campus layout, applying inspiration from tech companies and university campuses. Designs incorporate the seven concepts of the WELL Building Standard®, which look at how air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mental and emotional health impact employees.

Collaborative work areas will be a key design feature throughout the complex. Employees can expect more natural light in individual work spaces and more daily choice about where to work on particular tasks.

From sit/stand desks and private spaces to indoor and outdoor cafes with Wi-Fi, employees will have plenty of choice, including at least one conference and meeting space for every seven employees. In addition, on-site fitness centers and more healthy dining options are planned.

“We are taking a holistic approach when integrating employee wellness into work environments,” said Donna Inch, chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Land Development Corporation. “We realize people are our greatest asset, and we are putting them at the heart of our workplace design to create healthy, happy work environments.”

When complete, Ford’s Dearborn campuses will complement the company’s state-of-the-art facility that opened in Palo Alto, California, last year. The company plans to apply best practices and space standards from the Dearborn campus project as it upgrades its other global office environments.

Image credits: Ford Motor Co.

Below, watch a simulation of the campus transformation.