Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI
The Challenge:
The Ford Rouge Center, developed in the early 1900s, was a marvel of modern engineering; the Rouge turned raw materials into completed automobiles at one site. Ford's "vertically integrated" approach became respected as the manufacturing model for the first industrial revolution. By the late 20th century the site needed to be overhauled. Ford made a commitment to environmental responsibility and in particular to makeover this site utilizing sustainable design. Bill Ford, Chairman and CEO of Ford Motor Company stated, "The Ford Rouge Center draws on the inspirations of our past and the aspirations of our future. We are excited about the possibility of creating a new role model for industrial facilities everywhere."
ARCADIS was retained as the lead architecture and engineering design firm for this bold and innovative project. To transform the facility into a model for 21st century manufacturing, the project incorporated sustainable and "green" architectural concepts in the design and in the construction. The materials had to be chosen based on their environmental advantages. ARCADIS evaluated sustainable techniques, such as photovoltaics, geothermal energy systems, wind turbines, fuel cells, use of natural daylight, natural storm water treatment approach, operable windows, waterless toilets, etc. Other environmentally responsible techniques were also studied and considered.
The Solution:
Ford selected ARCADIS to lead the design of this enormous restoration. ARCADIS designed a sustainable system utilizing advanced ecological methods for stormwater management, energy, air quality and soil restoration. Building materials were evaluated and chosen based on their environmental advantages as well as their practical and economic value.
The Dearborn Truck Plan (DTP) will incorporate an extensive green roof. The roof will be the world's largest living roof, which will reduce stormwater runoff, act as insulation, and more than double the life of the roof. The design also includes a 'green screen' trellis for the manufacturing exterior walls. Phytoremediation is being utilized to break down and remove polyaromatic carbons, a by-product of years of steel manufacturing. The nation's largest porous parking lot located at the vehicle shipping yard will help to control and effectively manage stormwater run-off. Other Sustainable design elements include 36 skylights in the DTP Final Assembly, geothermal energy systems and operable windows.
The DTP plant design features three physical activity or circulation levels: shipping/receiving, assembly, and administrative. With the goal of providing a safe, user friendly environment for all employees, an employee and pedestrian mezzanine was incorporated where all non-manufacturing functions such as team rooms, conference rooms, break rooms and restrooms are placed safely above the main plant floor.
Developing a sustainable manufacturing model that encompasses people, products, and processes, and works with nature is the goal of this project, for Ford and ARCADIS.
