Kawasaki Engines offers first glimpse at headquarters renovation

The Engines Division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. last year announced the pending consolidation of most of the division’s business components in a significantly renovated headquarters facility in Grand Rapids, Mich.

With the project’s completion expected later this year, the open design of the facility will allow for greater inter-departmental collaboration and provide staff with modern, light-filled work and meeting spaces.

Highlighting the 200,000-square-foot building’s new look will be a state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) center, previously outsourced to Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A., an engine production facility in Maryville, Mo. The combined R&D spaces within the renovated building will command a large portion of the project and keep Kawasaki’s engineering staff in close proximity to the sales team, with the goal of ultimately providing increased responsiveness to Kawasaki customers and driving innovation of new product.

The new offices and cubicles were designed so that anticipated future expansion can be accomplished with minimal disruption. The blending of light colors and wood with Kawasaki’s signature red logo color provides a contemporary feel to both work and public spaces.

“The new design not only opens up the work areas,” said Rodger Howe, divisional vice-president, “but it provides an environment conducive to individuals’ abilities to better communicate with other team members, both within and outside specific groups.”