Innovation Center and Regional Headquarters
Creating a Connected Workplace for Discovery
In the world of chemical and product research, talent drives innovation. Yet Wacker Chemical recognized that its aging, undersized R&D facility had become a barrier to attracting and retaining the next generation of researchers. Determined to change that, the company committed to building a new North American Innovation Center and Regional Headquarters in Pittsfield Township, Michigan—a workplace designed to be twice the size of the former facility, and far more aligned with the needs of modern science and collaboration.
From the start, Wacker’s goal was to create a facility that would project a clear cultural shift. Hierarchies would be diminished, replaced by a conscious dedication to teams, projects, and shared products. The building would need to be secure and safe for advanced research, yet open, light-filled, and inspiring for employees. To shape the design, HED worked with more than a third of Wacker’s staff through engagement workshops, an executive steering committee, and a move ambassador program. This input identified the priorities most important to Wacker’s culture: flexible spaces, ergonomic workstations, technology that accelerates collaboration, and abundant daylight.
The resulting 165,000-square-foot building embodies what Wacker calls an “extroverted design.” Long north- and south-facing glass facades are oriented to maximize daylight and open views of adjacent wetlands and the broader community. The transparency of these walls allows employees, visitors, and even passersby to see the energy of research and collaboration inside, reinforcing the idea that the Innovation Center is not an isolated lab but a place deeply connected to its context.
Large contiguous floor plates house both open office and laboratory areas, encouraging interaction and adaptability. Research labs are designed for flexibility, able to shift as new tools, processes, and priorities emerge. Workstations and collaboration zones flow seamlessly, creating opportunities for planned and spontaneous teamwork. Shared amenities—including dining, gathering areas, and informal meeting spaces—strengthen community while still allowing individual business units to retain their own identities.
Every detail was shaped by HED’s integrated services: architecture, interior design, lab planning, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, landscape architecture, technology solutions, master planning, and experiential graphics. The building systems provide robust support for research while maintaining a welcoming, human-centered atmosphere. Landscape design enhances the natural setting, weaving wetlands into the site experience. Graphics and environmental branding celebrate Wacker’s products and people, connecting scientific discovery to the company’s broader mission of value creation.
Already recognized with multiple honors, including a 2025 Engineering Merit Award from ACEC Michigan and Best New Office Project in 2023 from DBusiness Magazine, the Innovation Center has been embraced as a cultural catalyst. For Wacker, it is not just a new home but a transformation—a workplace that attracts top talent, fuels discovery, and fosters a collaborative, innovative spirit that advances both science and society.
