DEARBORN (WWJ) -- For the first time in seventy years, Ford is moving its World Headquarters. A new 2.1 million square foot building on the company’s Dearborn product development campus will the new new Headquarters, and the iconic headquarters building on Michigan Avenue will be demolished.
For nearly 70 years, the iconic Glass House served as the nerve center of our global operations and we honor its incredible legacy. But the future of our industry demands a different kind of space—one that is more connected, more flexible, and built for the speed of a technology- and software-driven company.
“For nearly 70 years, the iconic Glass House served as the nerve center of our global operations and we honor its incredible legacy,” read an email sent to Ford employees by Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Jim Farley. “But the future of our industry demands a different kind of space—one that is more connected, more flexible, and built for the speed of a technology- and software-driven company.”
Ford is wrapping up construction of the new headquarters building, where the company’s historic product development center once stood, across Oakwood Boulevard from the Henry Ford Museum. A grand opening for the new building is planned for November, but some work will continue on the site until 2027.
The building will be able to house four thousand employees, with a total of fifteen thousand employees working within walking distance.
“This is more than just a new building; it’s a catalyst for innovation and a physical symbol of our Ford+ transformation,” read the email from Ford and Farley. “To win in this new era, we must work more closely together than ever before.”
Ford says, for the first time, leadership, design and engineering will work “within steps of each other.” The new building will include state of the art facilities which Ford says were designed for a post-Covid work force. Ford recently began requiring most salaried workers to do their jobs on site at least four days a week.
The Glass House was Ford’s fifth headquarters building. They moved into it in 1956.
“It towered above Michigan Avenue with the Ford Blue Oval,” says Ford archivist Ted Ryan. “It put a stake in the ground that Ford Motor Company was one of America’s greatest companies.”
Ryan said, at the time, the building was state of the art. It was designed by one of the top architecture firms in the country. But times have changed.
“It was a 70 year old building. It’s hard to keep 70 year old buildings up to date with the newest technology. It was time to move on.”
Ford and Farley told employees that they are working with authorities in Dearborn on the best way to make the old Headquarters site “serve our employees and neighbors.” An announcement on that is expected at a later date.
“As we continue to adapt our campus for the future, the Glass House will itself be transformed. Once our teams have vacated the building, it will be sustainably decommissioned and ultimately demolished over the course of roughly 18 months as we prepare to repurpose the site as an asset to our teams and our community.”