Ford’s Michigan Central Station revival continues to push forward and make progress, and soon, the revived historical site will serve as a hub for autonomous vehicle research, the host site for a community business program, and other mobility projects, with more advanced tech like 3D printing helping to preserve its original charm. Back in February, Ford announced that it was also restoring the Michigan Central Book Depository – which has been vacant for 30 years – to serve as Newlab’s Detroit headquarters and its Mobility Studio. Now, it will be the first major building to officially open at Michigan Central on this very day.
“Five years ago, we set out to create a place that would anchor Detroit’s and the region’s role in solving the most pressing mobility challenges and help change people’s lives for the better,” said Bill Ford. “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.”
Designed by Albert Kahn, the Michigan Central Book Depository originally opened in back in 1936 as a post office and mail sorting facility before moving on to serve Detroit public schools, but following its renovation, it has been transformed into a high-tech 270,000-square-foot facility designed to serve as a dynamic workspace with purpose-built labs.
Newlab will oversee the collaborative work of entrepreneurs and innovators at the Michigan Central Book Depository, which will house a total of 25 companies and more than 150 members. All will work together and collaborate with Ford on a variety of future mobility projects, including electrification.
We’ll have more on Michigan Central Station soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comments
Yep… spend money on office space, Argo, and Rivian… all distractions from engineering, sourcing, and delivering quality vehicles. The sentimentality of the train depot is meaningless to all the customers of recalled and poor quality vehicles… or to those customers still waiting (many months) for delivery… or to those employees who were shown the door.
If Covid should have taught people was that office space/buildings are a bad risk. I guarantee you this place will be mostly vacant 10 years from now.