Michigan Central, Ford Motor Co.’s emerging hub for advancing mobility-focused technologies, today unveiled Newlab Detroit’s headquarters in the restored Book Depository building, located immediately east of the former train station in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood.
“Five years ago, we set out to create a place that would accelerate Detroit and our region’s role in solving the most pressing mobility challenges and change people’s lives for the better,” says Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford in Dearborn.
“With the opening of Newlab Detroit in the Book Depository, the first building completed in Michigan Central’s campus, that vision is becoming a reality. We see an opportunity to bring new companies and jobs to Michigan, while also attracting the best and the brightest talent for our industry.”
Newlab at Michigan Central will offer startups, entrepreneurs, engineers, and scientists the opportunity to build breakthrough companies in Detroit. Building on its success in Brooklyn, Newlab states it will scale its model of applied innovation to create the conditions for a sustainable high-tech startup ecosystem to take hold in the region.
Originally built as a post office and mail-sorting facility, and then used as the Detroit Public Schools’ Book Depository, the historic 1936 Albert Kahn-designed Art Deco building is now a center of innovation and technology.
Michigan Central hired and collaborated with Newlab to reimagine the building as a 270,000-square-foot workplace with purpose-built labs to advance innovation.
Newlab Detroit reports it has attracted 25-plus companies, a third of which it says are led by founders who are underrepresented in tech. Half of the companies are from the Detroit area, and the rest have come to Detroit from around the country, and the world.
Collectively, the companies already located at Newlab have raised more than $500 million in venture capital funding, Newlab reports.
“Michigan Central is a first-of-its-kind open platform, underpinned by Ford’s commitment to help advance future technologies and skills. It will become a proving ground to drive new innovation across physical solutions that promote social and economic mobility,” says Joshua Sirefman, CEO of Michigan Central.
“This is just the start for Michigan Central as we look to scale the attraction of more companies and investment from around the globe to make an impact here in Detroit and Michigan that will be felt across the world.”
Newlab has been charged with building and activating the high-tech startup ecosystem at Michigan Central. In Detroit, Newlab states it is scaling its model of applied innovation, which is designed to accelerate the development, scale, and adoption of critical technologies across mobility, energy, and materials.
Among the companies based at Newlab are Airspace Link, a drone management platform; Cavnue, a company accelerating the benefits of automated vehicles through advanced roadways; Grounded, a company developing electrified recreational vehicles; Wheel.me, a Norway-based robotics company that invented the world’s first and only autonomous wheel; and JustAir, a Detroit-based startup developing local air pollution monitoring solutions, among others.
Newlab states it will connect these and future member companies with the resources they need to build faster, stronger companies.
This includes purpose-built prototyping labs as well as the opportunities to partner with industry and government stakeholders through pilot projects designed to validate commercial pathways and de-risk technology adoption.
Newlab also will support direct venture investment through its exclusive partnership with New System Ventures (NSV), a new climate-tech venture capital firm with boots on the ground at Michigan Central, to help companies scale their operations.
Michigan Central, which spans 30 acres, will include a Transportation Innovation Zone designated with expedited permission to enable rapid pilot deployment and iteration in the public right of way.
“We are in a crucial period in history where we need to accelerate the development and deployment of critical technologies, but in ways that are human-centered and equitable. Michigan Central is building an unprecedented platform to make this possible,” says David Belt, co-founder of Newlab.
“Newlab is dedicated to turning world-changing ideas into real-world solutions and we are honored to be partnering with Michigan Central, the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan to help cement Detroit’s position as the leader in mobility and drive transformative, innovation-led economic development.”
Mayor Mike Duggan says, “Michigan Central will be a tremendous economic development engine for Detroit, attracting and growing top mobility companies and entrepreneurs, locally and from around the world, to innovate and build their products right here.”
Projected to attract thousands of new jobs to Michigan Central, the campus will offer innovation and collaborative workspaces, residential offerings, dozens of acres of green and open space for the community, and retail and hospitality.
Michigan Central also is committed to helping more Detroit residents and others gain skills they need to join the mobility workforce through Michigan Central’s Skills at the Seams program. Entry-, medium- and high-skill levels can learn through traditional classroom-style courses, internships and fellowships, apprenticeships, and other experiential learning opportunities.
The design studio CIVILIAN, which served as interior designer and architectural design consultant, outfitted the interior of the Book Depository to create a collaborative high-tech workspace and prototyping labs. CIVILIAN and Gensler worked alongside Dearborn-based Ghafari, interior architect of record for the project. MYK translated the interior design philosophy to the exterior spaces and landscape design.
For more information, visit michigancentral.com.
