Overview

Visteon Village Corporate Headquarters

Visteon Corporation

SmithGroup designed the award-winning headquarters of this automotive supplier as a "village" of varied buildings and outdoor rooms. Three entry courts, three internal courts and a lakefront piazza organize the site plan, connected by a boardwalk, a cobbled street and a third-floor circulation spine.

 

The novel planning concept creates an attractive and innovative mix of intimate office and laboratory work areas, as well as spaces for gatherings and individual relaxation. About half of the offices enjoy a lake view; labs primarily face the courtyards. Conference spaces and vertical circulation are concentrated in small towers to further break down the scale of the large complex. Pitched roofs and a mix of brick, glass and stone reinforce the village notion.

 

Location

Van Buren Township, Michigan

 

Size

850,000 gsf

 

Cost

$270 million


Industry


Specialized Service

Approach

The planning and architecture support a community-style work environment that stimulates creativity and growth. The village was "zoned" into four use areas: civic, commercial, office and industrial. Unique forms and materials break down the large complex into human-scaled spaces, with most structures three stories high. Along the artificial lake are visitor-oriented spaces, such as the dining hall, auditorium and customer presentation rooms.

Sustainability

Motivated for LEED certification, Visteon pursued numerous green building strategies for their headquarters, including preservation of wetlands on the site; water use reductions of 35 percent in part due to its artificial lake; high-efficiency underfloor HVAC; diversion of construction waste for recycling; use of recycled and locally produced materials; extensive daylighting; and electrical lighting systems that consume only 1 watt per square foot.  The project was successful in achieving LEED-NC certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Recognition

  • Sustainable Leadership Award for Design and Development - Commended, AIA / International Interior Design Association / CoreNet Global, 2007
  • Finalist - Excellence in Design, Commercial Construction Category, Environmental Design + Construction, 2007
  • International Illumination Design Award of Merit, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), 2007
  • Illumination Design Award, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) - Michigan, 2007
  • SOURCE Award, Commercial Category Winner, Cooper Lighting, 2007
  • Best Cement Masonry Project, BAC Craft Award, International Union of Bricklayers and Applied Craftworkers, 2005
  • Construction and Design Award, Engineering Society of Detroit, 2006
  • Technology Award - Honorable Mention, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), National, 2007
  • Technology Award, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Regional Competition, 2006
  • Technology Award, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Detroit Chapter, 2006
  • Honor Award, AIA Detroit, 2006
  • Impact Award - New Construction, Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) - Detroit Chapter, 2006
  • Award of Excellence, Michigan Concrete Paving Association, 2005

 

 

"World Class in a Small Town,"  LD+A, January 2008

 

"Less is More," Contract Lighting, May/June 2007

 

"Linear UFAD at Village,"  ASHRAE Journal, August 2007