Ford $F ( ▼ 0.9% ) is entering a new era, and has announced plans to move its world headquarters from the iconic “Glass House” to a new location in Dearborn, Michigan.
The details: Over the coming months, executives and product developers will relocate to a new 2.1-million-square-foot development hub near the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn—closing the book on a monumental chapter in Detroit’s automotive history.
Named for its windowed exterior, the 950,000-square-foot “Glass House” has served as Ford’s headquarters since 1956, situated on a 212-acre campus.
Once vacated, the building will undergo a “sustainable demolition” and is expected to be torn down by late 2027 or mid-2028.
Ford says it will preserve a piece of its legacy by carrying over the storied “1 American Road” address to the new campus.
What they’re saying: “Ford Motor Company’s importance to our community cannot be overstated," city of Dearborn spokesman Hassan Abbas told The Detroit Free Press. "More than just the industrial heartbeat of the modern American economy, Ford’s legacy is deeply intertwined with this city’s history.”
Why it matters: The announcement comes less than a week after Ford launched its first global marketing campaign in more than 15 years, “Ready Set Ford,” marking another turning point for the automaker.
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Between the lines: Executive Chair Bill Ford said the move is designed to foster a more collaborative environment, bringing leadership closer to design and engineering teams.
The new site will sit adjacent to the Ford Engineering Lab and Ford Experience Center.
Concentrating thousands of employees within walking distance will eliminate wasted travel time, he added.
“Right now, if you’re in world headquarters and you want to go over to what we call the PDC, the Product Development Center, you get in the car, drive over, look for a place to park, you walk down the long hallway…that whole thing takes a long time. So even if you’re only over there for an hour meeting, you’re burning two hours for sure out of your day," said Ford.
What’s next: Most employees will move out by the end of the second quarter in 2026, with demolition of The Glass House expected to finish between the end of 2027 and mid-2028.
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