GM To Invest $1 Billion In Warren Technical Center, Create 2,600 Salaried Jobs
WARREN (WWJ) - General Motors announced Thursday a $1 billion investment in its Warren Technical Center campus, creating approximately 2,600 new jobs to support future business growth at the National Historic Landmark site.
The multiyear project, which is driving new construction on the campus, significant renovations of some existing facilities and expansion of some operations, begins this month with work continuing through 2018.
"This is an investment in our people who work at the Tech Center because it is positioning the company for long-term growth by enabling new levels of innovation and collaboration into our workplace," Mark Reuss, GM executive vice president, said in a statement. "We will transform this campus into a collaborative workplace of choice for our current team and future talent."
Under current plans, the investment will create approximately 2,600 new GM salaried jobs in core areas like product engineering, IT and design, all areas critical to support future business growth. GM's Warren Technical Center is currently home to more than 19,000 employees.
Investment highlights include:
• Construction of new Design studios
• Construction of a parking deck for Design employees
• Rebuilding and renovating some existing R&D facilities
• Construction of a multi-story IT building adjacent to the current Michigan IT Innovation Center and a new parking deck for Innovation Center employees
• Construction to accommodate additional testing areas at the Advanced Energy Center
• Extensive office upgrades including new carpet, paint, furniture, reconfiguration of miscellaneous work areas in most Tech Center buildings, improving the work environment for all campus functions, including the Vehicle Engineering Center or VEC.
In addition, GM previously announced $139.5 million for body shop and stamping facility upgrades at its Warren Pre-Production Operations, part of a $5.4 billion investment in U.S. plants announced April 30.
"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," Gov. Rick Snyder said in a statement. "This is why we've focused so hard on creating the competitive economic climate for this kind of investment in our state that will keep our comeback going strong, making Michigan the place to live, work, do business, and play."
Warren Mayor Jim Fouts echoed Snyder's excitement, "which means more jobs and new revenue for police and fire services," he said. "This growth has already resulted in proposals for new investments in our downtown, which is directly across the street from the Tech Center."
Initial construction on the 326-acre Tech Center began in 1949, and it opened in 1956. The company for years has wanted to upgrade the facilities to better compete for technical talent with Silicon Valley and other firms that have nicer workplaces.
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. Fourteen years earlier, in 2000, the campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1986, the American Institute of Architects honored the Tech Center as the most outstanding architectural project of its era.
GM already has begun bringing thousands of computer experts to Warren as one of four information technology centers nationwide that are being set up to develop software for new vehicles and other purposes. The company also has consolidated 23 data centers globally into two, including Warren, and it's likely to expand design and engineering work on the huge campus.
The company bought a building across the street from the tech center that housed its former advertising agency for years. That building is now being renovated and likely will be used to house teams of people as their buildings are being upgraded on the tech center site.
