The iconic Glass House has watched over Ford’s operations in Dearborn, Michigan, since 1956. Now, nearly 70 years later, it’s preparing for retirement.

Ford announced today that its headquarters is moving into a brand-new, purpose-built complex. The building reshapes not just the company’s skyline, but also how it intends to work.

The automaker is constructing a huge headquarters that can house twice the staff size as part of its upgraded Henry Ford II World Center campus

While that figure mirrors the size of the Glass House, the new building is designed to operate in an entirely different way.

Instead of stacking 12 floors of offices into a boxy tower, Ford is spreading out across four expansive levels. The new building touts 2.1 million square feet of space. That’s once landscaping and final construction wrap up in 2027.

Inside, the difference is just as striking

Ford said the new World Headquarters will house up to 4,000 employees, double the Glass House’s capacity. It’s got everything from studios and fabrication shops to open collaboration areas and technology-enabled courtyards.

The design integrates with nearby research and engineering facilities, placing as many as 14,000 employees within a short walk of each other. Ford’s leaders explained in a news release that this proximity is intended to accelerate collaboration between design, engineering, and corporate leadership.

The building also reflects the automaker’s push toward sustainability

A central energy plant will supply hot water and steam, while energy-efficient systems, water-saving strategies, and DTE’s MI Green Power program will support its net-zero carbon goals.

Ford is carving out 12 acres of new greenspace on the site, including outdoor courtyards for employees. Amenities will include a 160,000-square-foot food hall with a rotating menu. That’s a a big upgrade from the Glass House’s 70,000-square-foot lobby and cafe.

Ford will bulldoze the original Glass House

Once employees vacate, Ford plans an 18-month decommissioning process before the structure gets demolished. Company officials said they are working with the City of Dearborn on how the site can best serve the community in the future.

Ford plans to officially open its new World Headquarters this November, welcoming employees and even hosting public tours. Final completion, though, will happen sometime in 2027.