Ford to turn former PDC into design and engineering hub

Ford Motor Company is converting its former Product Development Centre (PDC) in Dearborn into a dedicated design, engineering and prototype facility, with construction beginning in May and completion scheduled for 2029. The building, originally opened in 1953 as the centrepiece of Ford’s Research and Engineering campus, will be renamed World Headquarters South and integrated into the company’s wider headquarters complex.

The renovation will convert the PDC’s former design studios into a double-height flexible workspace for laboratories, vehicle testing and prototype development. Ford Racing will also relocate from its previous off-campus site to the building, bringing the racing operation into closer proximity with product development and engineering teams.

Ford said the co-location is intended to accelerate knowledge transfer between its motorsport programme and broader vehicle development. The company cited lessons from endurance and performance racing as directly informing technology development across its production vehicle lineup.

The 3.3-million-square-foot completed complex will accommodate between 10,000 and 11,000 employees across both buildings, with approximately 16,000 staff within a 15-minute walk of one another across the campus.

In a statement, Jim Farley, President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “This includes connecting the Ford Racing teams who innovate on the track with their colleagues across the business, and help bring those advances to our customers’ vehicles.”

Source: Ford