Today, Ford Motor Company is taking a huge step in the right direction! After 70 years, they’re moving their corporate headquarters to a shiny new facility only three miles away in Dearborn, Michigan. The new headquarters, named “Ford World Headquarters,” will officially open its doors in November and will be part of a larger campus that retains the name of the original headquarters: Henry Ford II World Center.
This latest decision to relocate highlights Ford’s drive to create collaboration and innovation in both the area and their business. The new 2.1-million-square-foot building will colocate corporate leadership with design and engineering teams, enhancing the company’s ability to develop cutting-edge products. This smart consolidation will put 14,000 workers within a 15-minute walk of the new headquarters. It fosters a more collaborative workplace and fosters teamwork.
Ford World Headquarters is truly a healthy by design workplace, focused on the mental and physical well being of their employees. The new facility will feature six design studios fueled by creative energy. It will feature a 160,000-square-foot employee food hall, wellness rooms and spaces for mothers. Beyond the headquarters’ stunning design, the building will feature more than 300 tech-enabled meeting rooms, supporting new collaborative work styles and improving communications across teams.
Ford’s original headquarters, dedicated in 1953, soon came to embody that legacy. When President Dwight Eisenhower attended the dedication in person, it became one of the first events ever transmitted via closed-circuit television. Of course, Dearborn is intimately tied to Ford. This is the place where legendary American vehicles such as the Mustang, Thunderbird, and F-series trucks were born.
“It’s significant that we are moving to a new headquarters while still embracing our roots,” said Ted Ryan from Ford. When we do eventually relocate our headquarters, we plan to take the 1 American Road address with us to the new home. We’re looking forward to creating more next-century products in the years to come!
Ryan further noted the historical connection between Dearborn and the Ford family: “Henry Ford was born just a few miles from the headquarters where we sit now. There have been multiple Ford family members who, as they walk in and they see the blue oval with ‘Ford’ on the side of the building, they’re really walking into their family home.”
Ford is on the cusp of a very exciting new chapter. Through its leadership, the company understands how important its heritage and location are to this journey.
“Dearborn and Ford are virtually interchangeable,” Ryan continued. “Because if you think of Dearborn, you think of Ford and if you think of Ford, you think of Dearborn.”
