Continental unveils expansion to Americas headquarters in Fort Mill

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Continental Tire the Americas officially opened a new sustainably designed facility in Fort Mill.

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, according to a news release.

“Another great moment for Continental and for the State of South Carolina,” said Jochen Etzel, CEO Continental Tire the Americas, in the release. “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.

The facility was built steps away from Continental’s headquarters building.

Involving employees, managers as well as executives from the project inception allowed every aspect of the facility to be purposefully ideated, the release stated: 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.

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“This new structure is so much more than the typical office building,” Etzel said in the release. “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 planned to be an example of Continental’s sustainability ambitions, the release stated. 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, according to the release. A total of 840 solar panels are located on the roof and in the parking area. These panels contribute up to 25% 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.