Construction continues on Ford technology center

Tuesday
Jan 9, 2018 at 11:00 AM

The data center in Flat Rock will house computers and other information technology to support the automaker's global operations.

Dean Cousino Monroe News staff reporter CousinoDean

A foundation is about 90 percent finished on a $ 100 million data and technology center at the Ford Motor Co. assembly plant in the City of Flat Rock.

The foundation is nearing completion and about 20 percent of the steel frame is up on the 212,750-square-foot center at the southwest corner of Gibraltar and Hall Rds., said Larry Dishaw, director of building and safety for the city.

“They’re making good progress,” Dishaw said Friday. “They’re also working on the floors and they’re about 50 percent completed with that. It’s a huge building.”

Two huge cranes are being used on site and can be seen from a distance. A large earth berm surrounds the 115-acre site for security reasons. Once completed, the structure should be sturdy enough to withstand tornado-like winds, he said.

The $66 million investment does not include mechanical and electrical equipment, computer servers and other information technology that will be housed in the building. When finished, more than $200 million will be invested, he said.

“As fast as they’re going, they should be completed by this fall,” he said.

The building will include about 13,000 square feet of office and conference space and small parking and loading dock areas.

The project supports Ford’s expected dramatic increase in data storage needs and global operations and is part of more than $900 million the automaker wants to invest to build high-tech electrified and autonomous vehicles at Ford plants. The investment is expected to create 650 new jobs and make Flat Rock a “critical plant for Ford’s advance technology vehicles,” a Ford spokeswoman said earlier.

The plant at Gibraltar and I-75 employs about 3,500 workers and makes the Ford Mustang and Lincoln Continental. The plant is being prepared for greater production of the hybrid autonomous vehicle that will come to market in 2021, Ford officials said last month.

The company is the city’s largest taxpayer. Last summer, the city council okayed a 50 percent property tax break for the project.

The data center, additional jobs and the increased investment in the plant will sustain the city in the future, Mayor Jonathan Dropiewski said.

Tuesday
Jan 9, 2018 at 11:00 AM

The data center in Flat Rock will house computers and other information technology to support the automaker's global operations.

Dean Cousino Monroe News staff reporter CousinoDean

A foundation is about 90 percent finished on a $ 100 million data and technology center at the Ford Motor Co. assembly plant in the City of Flat Rock.

The foundation is nearing completion and about 20 percent of the steel frame is up on the 212,750-square-foot center at the southwest corner of Gibraltar and Hall Rds., said Larry Dishaw, director of building and safety for the city.

“They’re making good progress,” Dishaw said Friday. “They’re also working on the floors and they’re about 50 percent completed with that. It’s a huge building.”

Two huge cranes are being used on site and can be seen from a distance. A large earth berm surrounds the 115-acre site for security reasons. Once completed, the structure should be sturdy enough to withstand tornado-like winds, he said.

The $66 million investment does not include mechanical and electrical equipment, computer servers and other information technology that will be housed in the building. When finished, more than $200 million will be invested, he said.

“As fast as they’re going, they should be completed by this fall,” he said.

The building will include about 13,000 square feet of office and conference space and small parking and loading dock areas.

The project supports Ford’s expected dramatic increase in data storage needs and global operations and is part of more than $900 million the automaker wants to invest to build high-tech electrified and autonomous vehicles at Ford plants. The investment is expected to create 650 new jobs and make Flat Rock a “critical plant for Ford’s advance technology vehicles,” a Ford spokeswoman said earlier.

The plant at Gibraltar and I-75 employs about 3,500 workers and makes the Ford Mustang and Lincoln Continental. The plant is being prepared for greater production of the hybrid autonomous vehicle that will come to market in 2021, Ford officials said last month.

The company is the city’s largest taxpayer. Last summer, the city council okayed a 50 percent property tax break for the project.

The data center, additional jobs and the increased investment in the plant will sustain the city in the future, Mayor Jonathan Dropiewski said.

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