When the iconic Glass House opened in 1956 as Ford World Headquarters, the seven-story tower in Dearborn, MI was one of the country’s largest office buildings occupied by a single company. For over 70 years it has been a landmark in Dearborn as the home for Ford’s global operations.
The building has been home to many of Ford’s famous leaders like Henry Ford II and Lee Iaccoca among others. Ford routinely held events there for the public and it has been a popular place for Ford enthusiasts to visit when they come to Dearborn.
For those who hold a sentimental place for the Glass House, it’s era is sadly coming to a close next year when it is scheduled to be demolished.
Last week, Ford Motor Company announced it will be moving to a brand new building twice the size as the old one. The new Henry Ford II World Center is located south of the current building at 20901 Oakwood Blvd which is adjacent to the new Ford product development campus and many of the existing laboratory buildings and test track complex.
To open in November 2025, the new facility can house some 4,000 employees with over 2 million square feet of collaborative spaces, open courtyards, and brings offices from several disciplines under one roof instead of being spread out across town at different locations.
Ground was broken for the new headquarters building in 2020 with construction to continue into the last phases until 2027. The 4-story steel and glass structure while entirely a world away in design from the old building shares a lot of visual nuances while also being completely contemporary.
With modern building technology, architectural and mechanical design standards, the new world headquarters will use 50% of the energy the old product development center that once stood in its place used. Additionally the campus will feature plenty of open green space for employees to enjoy.
Engineering, design, and technology teams will work in the same campus as sales, marketing and management teams. The new format allows for closer collaboration among teams, faster problem solving and design, and a more cohesive environment overall for employees.
Being centrally located at the new product development campus, some 14,000 additional Ford employees at the surrounding facilities and laboratories are within a 15 minute walk away.
The building will feature six design studios for confidential reviews in indoor and outdoor spaces.
There will be a showroom with 10 turntables and full 64-foot LED screen wall to compare life size vehicles. The complex will also feature fabrication shops and garages, a food court, various wellness amenities for employees and over 300 meeting rooms for collaboration.
The new Henry Ford II World Center will be open to all Ford employees to use for meetings, events and collaborative gatherings even if they work at other facilities. Additionally the new facility will be open to the public and tours will be offered.
After the old Glass House is demolished some time in 2026, the site will become a yet unannounced facility that is said to be of benefit to both employees and residents of Dearborn. Ford says it’s working on plans with the city to develop a vision for the site.
