Continental Tire the Americas (Continental) has officially opened a new sustainably designed facility in Fort Mill, S.C., today with local and state officials, key building project representatives, and corporate social responsibility partners. The state-of-the-art, 90,000 square foot building, which sits on 33 acres in northern Lancaster County, has capacity for 350 employees and is designed and built for future expansion potential.
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Continental’s three-story, 90,000 square foot building is designed and constructed to achieve LEED Gold certification. (Photo: Business Wire)
“Another great moment for Continental and for the State of South Carolina,” said Jochen Etzel, CEO Continental Tire the Americas. “Who would have imagined when we moved to the Palmetto state in 2009, that we would have invested over $800 million in our facilities across the state. The U.S. is a strategic growth market for Continental and particularly for our Tire business. It is with the dedicated support and assistance of the Lancaster County Economic Development Corporation and the State of South Carolina Department of Commerce that this facility is built steps away from the current headquarters building.”
New facility purposefully planned
Involving employees, managers, and executives from the project inception allowed every aspect of the facility to be purposefully ideated: from the selection of the architect to the details of the colors and furniture. Inspired by nature and incorporating both timeless and modern design elements, the building allows natural light to flood the interior year-round. Collaborative spaces of various sizes are located on all three levels, as well as offering numerous quiet areas for focused work. The building is surrounded by a wooded area planned for future outdoor trails.
“This new structure is so much more than the typical office building,” continued Etzel. “In the past, the office was a place you had to come to — our objective for this building was to create a workplace destination that you want to come to.”
Sustainability vision guided the design
From the site layout to the building designed to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, to the incorporation of energy-saving and efficient materials, the project was carefully planned to be an example of Continental’s sustainability ambitions. LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. The project incorporated key LEED building standards including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. The open office layout incorporates natural materials installed by local artisans that creates a unique and collaborative environment. The building utilizes LED lighting for cost savings and contains recycled content carpet tiles and low VOC paint.
On the exterior, the parking area, optimized for a decreased heat signature, includes 10 EV charging stations that may be used for electric vehicles or motorcycles. A total of 840 solar panels are located on the roof and in the parking area. These panels contribute up to 25 percent offset of the building’s total energy consumption. Rainwater harvesting will be utilized for irrigation of the plantings and lawn area. The project was designed by Gresham Smith and constructed by Edifice.
Continental considers safety to be a top priority for employees, visitors and workers at its facilities. With over 135,000 person-hours invested during construction, there were zero recordable incidents during that time.
“I want to personally recognize the countless hours by all of the trades who made this vision a reality. On behalf of the executive team and the entire Continental family, I want to again thank the project team, the building partners, the county, and the state of South Carolina,” continued Etzel.
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2023, Continental generated sales of €41.4 billion and currently employs around 200,000 people in 56 countries and markets.
Tire solutions from the Tires group sector make mobility safer, smarter, and more sustainable. Its premium portfolio encompasses car, truck, bus, two-wheel, and specialty tires as well as smart solutions and services for fleets and tire retailers. Continental delivers top performance for more than 150 years and is one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers. In fiscal 2023, the Tires group sector generated sales of 14 billion euros. Continental’s tire division employs more than 56,000 people worldwide and has 20 production and 16 development sites.
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