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The General Motors Technical Center was developed from 19491955 at a cost of approximately 100 million While it was cited as the most outstanding architectural project of its era by the American Institute of Architects in 1986 itrsquos now in due for an extensive ldquorestoration and renovationrdquo according to a GM spokesman

GM Tech Center in Line for $1B Update

April 12, 2015
Renovation of 60-year-old campus seen as effort to restore “state-of-the-art” Tax breaks sought 3,000 jobs anticipated IT personnel, resources

General Motors Corp. is preparing a considerable capital-improvement program at its GM Technical Center in Warren, MI, but has not detailed the project and would not confirm its reported $1-billion cost. That detail, and the indication that the project could initiate up to 3,000 new jobs in the region, were provided by the mayor of the Detroit suburb.

The schedule and specific objectives of the updates have not been release.

A GM spokesman confirmed plans to update the research campus, but noted that the corporation’s senior management has not yet approved the project.  GM spokesman Dan Flores acknowledged that automaker is requesting tax abatement from the city for a planned, major construction project at the technical center.

"It's no surprise that the tech center is in need of some restoration and renovation to kind of bring it back up to state-of-the-art," according to Flores.

Warren Mayor Jim Fouts indicated the details would be revealed in May.

The General Motors Technical Center is a research center developed by the automaker beginning in 1949, and completed in 1955 at cost of approximately $100 million. The mile-square campus covers 330 acres and has 11 miles of roads and 1.1 miles of tunnels connecting 25 main buildings, with numerous other structures and 22-acre lake. It is the site for scientific and industrial inquiry, with research teams at work on every sort of project, conceptual, theoretical, and practical, in physics, electronics, chemistry, metallurgy and materials.

In recent years, GM has been increasing the numbers of information technology resources and personnel at the Tech Center, developing new programming and network technology, for new vehicles and other projects. GM also concentrated its global data resources at two locations, Warren being one of these.

According to GM’s published information, the Tech Center has about 19,000 workers — engineers, designers, technicians, and others — working on new product development, design, information technology, R&D and customer service.

About the Author

Robert Brooks | Content Director

Robert Brooks has been a business-to-business reporter, writer, editor, and columnist for more than 20 years, specializing in the primary metal and basic manufacturing industries. His work has covered a wide range of topics, including process technology, resource development, material selection, product design, workforce development, and industrial market strategies, among others.