Wolverine Worldwide has cut the ribbon on the recent renovation of its global headquarters in Rockford, MI, which reflects the company’s “continued efforts to modernize facilities, centralize core business operations, and attract and retain top-tier talent by creating new spaces for innovation and collaboration and advancing team and culture development.”
Take a Video Tour of the Renovated Global Headquarters here.
“Our company is driven by a new vision to Make. Every Day. Better. – for our team, customers, consumers, shareholders, and community,“ said Chris Hufnagel, president and CEO of Wolverine Worldwide. “We believe that to create amazing, thoughtful, trend-right, innovative products and experiences that improve our consumers’ lives and drive growth, we must provide our team members with great environments to work and win together.”
The centerpiece is a top-to-bottom renovation of 40,000 square feet, which houses the company’s two largest brands, Merrell and Saucony, the latter of which the company recently relocated to Rockford, MI from Boston.
The building, constructed in 1963, was used as a footwear factory for several decades before being renovated in the 1990s as office space. Now known as “The Factory,” the renovated space features exposed structures and concrete floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, 224 individual workstations, dedicated product and marketing rooms for each brand, 31 collaboration and meeting rooms, a café, and technology for product design, marketing and global collaboration.
“We’re proud to have been founded 142 years ago here in West Michigan, and to still call Rockford our hometown today,“ continued Hufnagel. “The Factory further demonstrates our commitment to both growing our business and deepening our roots in this community.”
The project is supported by a $1M Michigan Business Development Program grant in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Center (MEDC) and The Right Place, Inc.
“Today’s investment announcement by Wolverine Worldwide further advances the state’s outdoor recreation industry heritage. This announcement further proves Team Michigan’s successful execution of the ‘Make it in Michigan’ economic development strategy focusing on People, Places and Projects,“ said Matt McCauley, SVP of Regional Development at the MEDC. “The company could have chosen to expand anywhere in the country, or world for that matter, and we remain thankful for their commitment to Michigan and the talented workforce in West Michigan.”
The Factory is the latest improvement to Wolverine Worldwide’s 300,000-square-foot global headquarters. Additional on-site amenities for employees include subsidized daycare and early education center for kids six weeks to five years old, a fitness center including personal training and group classes taught by certified personal trainers, four miles of on-campus hiking and nature trails, an on-site, subsidized cafeteria, and dog daycare.
Images courtesy WWW, Video courtesy YouTube
