A New Home for a Global Innovator
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Global Headquarters
Akron, Ohio
Project Fast Facts
- More than $250 million in construction cost for the new global headquarters campus
- 7-story, 659,000 square foot facility
- Renovation to 207,000 square foot of the Innovation Center
- 5-story, 3,000 car parking structure
- Office space for 3,000 employees
- LEED Gold certified
When you build a new global headquarters once a century, you make sure it’s right for your business as well as your employees. As one of the world’s largest tire companies, Goodyear needed their headquarters to lead them into the future cost effectively – with smart building design and construction, as well as long-term maintenance considerations.
The situation
Goodyear’s previous global headquarters was 100 years old, and executives felt it didn’t help the company attract and retain top talent. “In our old building we had a lot of solid walls and windowless rooms. We needed a space that created a very collaborative place to work,” says Laura Thompson, Executive Vice President and CFO of Goodyear. To create this world-class headquarters, Goodyear called on Welty Building Company to provide the critical Program Management and Construction Management at Risk (CMaR) the project needed.
Maximizing every dollar
In a project of this scale, every detail counts – and can add up. Early on, Welty looked at what bid packages could be pushed back to save costs. They determined that by holding off on the AV package, Goodyear could get more state-of-the-art equipment for less. Welty also helped cut costs by suggesting a more cost-effective ceiling tile. Welty worked with the design team to assure these new solutions wouldn’t compromise the design. Savings like these allowed the client to add $2 million worth of additional items that were not in the original construction budget.
Adapting to change
In any construction project, change is inevitable. Yet assuring that changes don’t impact scheduling isn’t always possible. When Goodyear decided to revamp the entire first floor of the building after contracts were released, timing was at risk. Goodyear knew there would be a cost impact but needed to adhere to the original schedule. Welty’s team came together, worked with the architectural and engineering teams, and came up with a solution. Despite delays like this, as well as a brutal winter, Welty was able to deliver the facility ahead of schedule. “It was huge for us to able to move in four to six weeks early. It gave us flexibility that kept our business running,” says Thompson.
The final result is a space where Welty’s Build to Last philosophy is seen everywhere. “Welty brought a very genuine thought process to the table,” says Thompson. “From the very beginning Welty had the foresight to say: here are some things you need to think about. They made sure we were constructing a building that would last us for the next 100 years.”
Welty Shares Lean Design & Construction Best Practices At International Event
As members of the Lean Construction Institute (LCI), Welty Building Company participated in the 16th Annual National LCI Congress in San Francisco this past month. With continuous improvement being a central part of any company’s Lean philosophy, the LCI Congress offers Welty and like-minded constructors, owners and designers the opportunity to share lessons learned that can help us in our collective goal of transforming the construction industry for the better. This year’s LCI Congress was the largest to date, demonstrating that the Lean Design & Construction movement is gaining momentum and moving towards critical mass within the industry.
As a part of the team constructing the first IPD project utilizing Lean principles in Ohio — the new $150MM Critical Care Tower at Akron Children’s Hospital — Welty presented best practices to a geographically diverse group of attendees. Welty’s presentation focused on the sociographic aspects of establishing a Lean culture on large projects, particularly in areas that do not already have an established base of tradesmen experienced in Lean principles.
Welty is fortunate to be a part of the international community that is collaborating to implement Lean principles, maximizing the value that projects deliver to owners.