Valeo Tech Center Wins Business Week/Architectural Record Award for Business Solutions Through Architectural Design
11 December 2000
Valeo Tech Center Wins Business Week/Architectural Record Award for Business Solutions Through Architectural Design
AUBURN HILLS, Mich.--Dec. 11, 2000--For its innovative architectural solutions, the Valeo Technical Center in Auburn Hills, Mich. is one of 10 global recipients of the fourth annual Business Week/Architectural Record Awards, sponsored by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).The Valeo site, winner of the "headquarters, private sector, over $25 million" category award, was judged by an AIA-selected jury of business professionals and architects on the basis of architectural renderings and business plans. The 120,000 square foot building houses operations for the North American Engine Cooling and Climate Control divisions of Valeo, one of the world's leading automotive suppliers in both the original equipment and aftermarket segments.
Business Week's Nov. 6 issue describes the tech center as a "transparent solution....that exposes the entire process of creating and testing to view." Designed by architects Davis Brody Bond, the layout brings work teams together to interact in efficient, often elegant spaces.
"This entire building was designed for transparency," said Valeo Engine Cooling General Manager David Slaman. "Our underlying belief is that nothing should be hidden in business." Through its unique use of glass and openness, people, space and workflow are better integrated. On the second floor, for example, one can see from one end of the building to the other. Virtually everyone and everything is within view.
"Valeo's vision was to build a technical center that promotes teamwork through transparency and openness," he said. "This architectural layout encourages involvement by everyone in everything we do. Team members are aware sooner if there is a problem and say, 'What can I do to help?'"
All work areas are open, except for some conference rooms and directors' offices, which are enclosed in glass. Almost all of the offices are open at top. Instead of having ceilings, glass walls rarely exceed seven feet. Slaman's office, which is placed along a busy corridor, allows passersby to view posted sales, warranty figures and Slaman's message of the day.
Drywall is used on some of the conference room walls to cover structural elements. Dropped lighting armatures also incorporate power and data cables, allowing for quick reconfiguration of work spaces and work teams. In addition to promoting teamwork, the building's use of glass and openness allows natural light to reduce the amount of artificial lighting required. Cable-suspended sunshades and cable-and-rod skylight bracing elements help add a deceptive simplicity to a purposeful design.
Departing from more separate and detached departments, Valeo is organized into cross-functional teams that service specific programs for a given customer. Teams are comprised of members from engineering, program management, finance, sales and marketing, purchasing and quality. Valeo adopted this organizational and management philosophy to facilitate its 5 Core Strategies; Total Quality, Supplier Integration, Production System, Constant Innovation and Involvement of Personnel.
"We waste very little time as our site design helps eliminate the need for sending non-value added faxes and emails," Slaman said. "The tech center's openness promotes discussion and interaction among team members. If a team member from sales needs to talk with a designer, they are co-located rather than several floors apart. Because teams are better able to help each other on respective projects, the communication facilitated by open work areas benefits our customers, helping us keep programs on track, hit cost targets and perform quickly."
Work areas occupy two floors. The building's second floor is devoted entirely to office areas, while the first floor houses a combination of offices and a 45,000 square-foot laboratory. Within the testing area, where life cycle testing is almost continuous, there is no noise or vibration in the main corridors and it remains amazingly quiet. Soundproof glass around the test chambers absorbs vibrations that would otherwise distract team members, yet it allows constant visual contact among team members throughout the work process. The laboratory's open architecture coupled with a sophisticated computerized log system permits easy storage and retrieval of components at various stages of testing.
Valeo is focused on the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks, and ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers. Valeo achieved sales in 1999 of $7.75 billion U.S. and is now a $10 billion company. It has 167 plants, 41 research and development centers, 10 distribution centers and employs 75,000 people in 25 countries worldwide. Of these, there are 21 plants and eight research and development centers in North America employing 14,000 people. For further information on the Group and its businesses, see www.valeo.com.
Note: Color photo available upon request. Call Mike Wilson at Hedge & Company at (248) 350-2190.