Ford’s Historic Glass House Headquarters Set for Demolition

Ford has announced that its iconic “Glass House,” the glass-sided headquarters that’s stood tall since 1956, is set to be torn down. The building at 1 American Road has been the heart of Ford’s operations for nearly 70 years. However, the automaker is now ready to move into a brand-new, modern world headquarters nearby.

The Glass House is a 12-story, million-square-foot structure that has been home to around 2,000 employees. With its huge lobby, café, and rows of offices and meeting rooms, it’s been more than just a workplace. The Glass House has been a symbol of Ford’s history and presence in Michigan. But times are changing, and Ford says its new HQ is built for the future.

The new HQ of Ford covers 2.1 million square feet across four floors. It is over two times bigger than the Glass House. The company has designed it in a way that executives, engineers, designers, and staff work in a single space, and teamwork becomes more natural in the company.

Also, being right on Ford’s massive Dearborn campus means its 14,000 employees will all be closer than ever. It is expected that the new HQ will be completed in 2027; however, the maximum work is already finished. Some employees have already begun working there. Starting this November, all employees will be shifted to their new office.

The automaker says it will begin an 18-month process to carefully take the building apart in a sustainable way before it’s demolished. The company is also working with the city of Dearborn so that they can find out the best use of the site once the building is demolished.