DEARBORN (WWJ) Ford is expanding its new World Headquarters. The part of the former Product Development Center that’s still standing will be renovated and connected to the rest of the headquarters by skywalk. It will become
World Headquarters South.
“As we continue to modernize our work space all around the world, we realized that expanding our new World Headquarters complex to bring more employees closer together, closer to the teams they work with–and most important–closer to the product and the leadership, was really going to help how Ford brings the best products to market,” said Ford Land Chairman and CEO Jim Dobleske.
Dobleske says the first phase of construction will be complete by the end of next year. It will all be finished by late 2028 or early 2029.
“By the time we’re complete with the construction, we’ll be adding another five thousand employees to roughly bring that up to between ten and eleven thousand employees, all under one roof, considered World Headquarters.”
The addition will include the new home of Ford Racing. It will also have a 3100 stall parking deck, cafes with grab and go markets, and–responding to employee feedback–a new 30 thousand foot fitness center.
Fitness center at Ford WHQ South
Ford photo
“That’s been one of the top three requests we’ve gotten since we opened the headquarters building,” says Dobleske.
The project will incorporate parts of the current product development center. It will be completely renovated. Ford says they will add new skylights and windows to bring in more natural light. It will be remodeled to have the look and feel of the rest of Ford World Headquarters.
The new headquarters building opened last fall, and workers have been steadily moving in. There are currently 2500 people working on site now, with more coming in as spaces are completed.
Atrium at Ford WHQ South
Ford photo
Ford says the move in is going better than expected.
Dobleske says both the World Headquarters and World Headquarters South are an effort to give Ford workers the tools they need to do their jobs in a modern workplace.
“This is much more about the employees. Providing them a great place to work, a place where they can do their best work when they are on site. And, really giving them an opportunity to consolidate down onto the campus so we can collaborate together.”
