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Innovation Center and Regional HQ, Wacker Chemical
Pittsfield Township, MI
Dynamic science.
Attracting the next generation of innovators.
Holistic planning for a new scientific workplace
The need to attract and retain valuable talent is universal, but in the realm of chemical and product R&D it is especially competitive. Recognizing their aging, outgrown facility was acting as a deterrent to attracting valuable talent, Wacker Chemical made the commitment to building a new R&D workplace in a highly desirable community. Wacker turned to HED to design an upscale, modern, desirable workplace that would attract top young talent and be twice as large as the original.

An engagement plan that brought together over a third of Wacker's staff highlighted the features most important to their work culture: flexibility, ergonomic workstations, and plentiful daylighting. The workplace design emphasizes a diminished sense of hierarchy in favor of a conscious dedication to team, projects, and products thinking.

The 165,000 SF building’s “extroverted design” of sweeping glass helps engage employees and visitors with the surrounding landscape and community context, creating a highly experiential and interactive environment that inspires and activates its occupants. Long north and south building faces use their ideal solar orientation to allow the building and its inner workings to open up and engage with the surrounding context with a focus on access to views, daylight, and transparency.
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Results
Due to the nature and complexity of the project, experts from the scientific workplace team worked collaboratively within these engagement workshops, executive steering committee and move ambassador committees, addressing the needs and desires of three different groups. These multiple points of engagement resulted in a positive impact to the culture of the workplace, fostering more collaboration, interaction, and innovation.
The workplace design emphasizes a diminished sense of hierarchy in favor of a conscious dedication to team, projects, and products thinking.
Designed to support secure and safe operations, the design also maintains an open internal atmosphere and access to daylight and views.
Large contiguous floor plates of both open office and lab space provide a high degree of flexibility and opportunity for interaction and collaboration.
Project Data
Innovation Center and Regional Headquarters 2018-03887-000
Kirco Development
Pittsfield Township, Michigan
PROJECT SCOPE
New Construction
HED ROLE
Architecture (Full Service), Structural Engineering, Mechanical/ Plumbing Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Technology Solutions, Landscape Architecture, Master Planning, Lab Planning, Experiential Graphics, Interior Design
RSF/GSF
165,000
CONSTRUCTION COST
$50.0 Million
SUSTAINABILITY LEVEL
    LEED Certified Equivalent
Project Team
  • Jessi Mesalic
    NCIDQ
    Associate
    Interior Design
  • Marilee Lloyd
    AIA
    Associate Principal
    National Laboratory Planning Leader
  • Jack Bullo
    AIA, LEED AP
    Principal
    Design | Architecture
  • Mark Hieber
    ASLA, LEED AP
    Principal
    Landscape Architecture
  • Matthew Majchrzak
    Associate
    Electrical Design
  • Matthew McClellan
    RA
    Architecture
  • Lawrence Yetter
    CIPE, LEED AP
    Associate
    Mechanical Design
  • Mark Karaba
    RA, LEED AP, WELL AP
    Associate Principal
    Architecture
  • Ching Luk
    AIA
    Associate
    Architecture and Design
  • Jonathan Tull
    Design
  • Timothy Gawel
    NCIDQ
    Associate Principal
    Sector Leader
  • Barrett Newgeon
    PE, LEED AP, LC
    Associate
    Electrical Engineering
  • Megan Crawford
    PE
    Associate Principal
    Structural Engineering
  • Thomas Hoff
    Mechanical Design
  • Roan Isaku
    AIA
    Associate
    Practice Technology Project Leader
  • Thomas Herzog
    Electrical Design
Attracting the next generation of innovators.
Innovation Center and Regional HQ, Wacker Chemical
Pittsfield Township, MI
PROJECT DATA
PROJECT TEAM
Dynamic science.