Ford Engineering Lab
- SIZE
- 221K SQ FT
- TARGET DATE
- Complete
An iconic 100-year-old Ford building now reflects the future-forward vision of the company and the team inside. Designed by legendary architect Albert Kahn, the Ford Engineering Lab (FEL has undergone several redesigns and additions in its history – but this time, employee wellness and inspiration were at the forefront of this significant renovation.
“Our employees want to know that our brand values resonate with their own,” says Jennifer Kolstad, Ford Motor Company’s Global Design and Brand Director. “We don’t believe in disposable architecture at Ford. We really want to invest once for the long term.”
The reimagining of the FEL provides an open, human-centered environment with flexible spaces to encourage collaboration and areas for individual focus work. In the center of the building, is an oversized staircase that can serve as a town hall or large meeting space. Amenities include a 24/7 market, cafes, mother’s rooms, and two prayer rooms.
“Our employees want to know that our brand values resonate with their own”
“Sustainability and reuse was key to the project plan. The renovation helped uncover the beauty of the original design.”
Sustainability and reuse was key to the project plan. The renovation helped uncover the beauty of the original design. Perhaps the best illustration of this are the vaulted ceilings and banks of skylights, which a drop ceiling from a prior renovation had hidden. With the removal of this barrier, natural light now flows to the workspace once again, enhancing employee well-being and reducing demand for electricity on sunny days.
When originally completed in 1924 near the end of the Model T’s production run, the two-story FEL housed everything needed to design, prototype and test a new vehicle. This 221,000 sq ft facility also includes Henry Ford’s last remaining office, complete with a marble fireplace, grandfather clock and massive work desk. “A lot of important decisions have been made here,” says Ciera Casteel, Ford senior collections archivist. The FEL is also home to the Ford Archives team, along with a climate-controlled space housing three miles of stacks for photo negatives,
film, and video.
Reflecting Henry Ford’s passion for innovation, the limestone facade of the FEL features a series of beaux-arts reliefs celebrating human progress. The imaginative adaptive reuse of the FEL reflects the company’s commitment to honoring and carrying forward its legacy of innovation and collaboration.
GALLERY
Ford Engineeering Lab
