BMW opens new US headquarters

NEW YORK: BMW of North America is celebrating the opening of its new US headquarters, which was reimagined as part of a consolidated and realigned campus focusing on connection and community.

The company’s Woodcliff Lake campus, which sits on 63.8 acres, now consists of three buildings – a central building housing the national sales company, its associated functions and financial services, flanked by a second which houses the company’s North American training facilities, and the third supporting engineering and vehicle administration services.

The campus is anchored by the fully renovated central building at 200 BMW Drive, whose two-story entry pavilion provides a monumental sense of arrival through its dramatic structural-glazed façade that extends toward a welcoming and vibrant communal green.

The building is planned around this new entryway and a centralized circulation path known as ‘Main Street’ which encourages employee interaction within the building and links directly to a modern full-service cafeteria and food service amenities.

“An ideal on-site work environment enables intensive collaboration,” said Ilka Horstmeier, BMW AG Member of the Board of Management, People & Places.

“With the new BMW North America headquarters, we foster cohesion, innovation power, and ultimately growth and success. However, it's not just about where we work, but more importantly, how we work. It's about adopting more agile ways of working, using digital tools and methods, and thereby driving our performance.”

Throughout the building the raw beauty of the exposed concrete structure is complemented by dynamic feature elements: energy-efficient angled LED lighting, saturated graphics, dimensional wood elements, and jewel-tone accents.

The careful planning of both individual and collaborative workspaces allows daylight to flow across the floor. Higher ceilings and exposed structures successfully balance light.

Collectively, these design decisions create a healthy and comfortable atmosphere that encourages focus, collaboration, and success.

Further adding to the building’s aesthetic are over 25 significant works of art which were uncovered during the renovation are now on display throughout the building.

These include works by notable artists including Guatemalan-born abstract painter Alfred Jensen and American figurative artist Alex Katz.

Jensen’s work is characterized by grids of brightly geometric patterns and forms, is part of the permanent collections within the MOMA and Guggenheim in New York.

Katz is well known for his paintings and prints which are on parts of the permanent collections of over 100 museums across the U.S.

This year, BMW of North America also celebrates 50 years since it began operations as the exclusive importer for BMW automobiles in the US.

Initially headquartered in Montvale, NJ, BMW of North America took over from the Hoffman Motor Corporation on March 15, 1975.

This marked the start of a new era for the brand in the U.S. and laid the foundation for what would become a nationwide business which today includes four renowned brands and 30 business locations in 12 states.

Taken together, the activities of the BMW Group in the U.S. currently provide and support over 120,000 jobs and contribute more than 43.3 billion to the US economy annually.