General Motors Co. today announced it will invest $1 billion for the expansion of its Warren Technical Center campus, creating about 2,600 new jobs in product engineering, IT, and design. Renovation and construction work will begin this month, and is expected to be completed by 2018.
The announcement was made at the center today and was attended by Gov. Rick Snyder, GM employees, and other officials.
“At General Motors, we have one goal — earn our customers for life. And we plan to do that by leading in technology, safety, engineering, and design,” says Mark Reuss, GM’s executive vice president of global product development, purchasing, and supply chain. “To do that, we need the best facilities, the best studios, the best labs, the best work-flows, and the best product development organization we can assemble.”
GM’s Technical Center is home to about 19,000 employees. The expansion will include the construction of new design studios, the renovation of existing research and development facilities, and the creation of a multi-story IT building adjacent to the current Michigan IT Innovation Center.
“What we’re going to be able to see is not only the investment taking place here but what’s going to be happening outside (the ground), is going to be an incredible enhancement to the city of Warren in southeast Michigan,” says Mark Hackel, Macomb County executive. “People are going to be coming here, working here, (and) buying homes in this region.”
In addition to the $1 billion investment, GM also announced $139.5 million for an upgrade on its body shop and stamping facility at its Warren Pre-Production Operations. This is in addition to the $5.4 billion GM is investing across its 40 U.S. manufacturing plants that CEO Mary Barra outlined nearly two weeks ago.
“This is great news for Warren, the region and our state — it soundly demonstrates GM’s commitment to Michigan and our talented workforce, providing key jobs and career opportunities for today and tomorrow,” Rick Snyder says.
Initial construction on the 326-acre Tech Center began in 1949, and it opened in 1956. The campus was designed by world-renowned architect Eero Saarinen and landscape architect Thomas Church. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 2014 by the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.
“When finished we’ll have a much more efficient and collaborative work environment, with more open spaces, and much improved facilities,” Reuss says. “Developing a new farm, truck, or crossover takes a total team effort — and any team works better when a workplace is set up for “we” instead of “I.”
