A new, renewable power source is fueling the transformation of Ford’s world headquarters into a high-tech campus for up to 20,000 employees. The natural gas-fired Central Energy Plant (CEP), located within the 680-acre Research and Engineering Center, produces electricity, steam, chilled water, and hot water that is distributed to campus buildings. The CEP was constructed as a partnership between DTE Energy Services, under a long-term design-build-own-operate-maintain contract, and Ford who prepared the site and installed all utilities needed. Wade Trim’s design of the site and its specialized underground infrastructure network was honored by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) with a 2021 Engineering Honorable Conceptor Award.

Working to meet the goals and sensitive needs of numerous Ford and DTE stakeholders, we used a comprehensive and integrated design approach to create a safe and reliable infrastructure foundation for the CEP. Extensive subsurface investigation that included ground penetrating radar, all materials locators, and hydro excavation was completed to locate and protect utilities constructed over the past 67 years. Specialized infrastructure solutions include 42-inch hydronic piping, steam and condensate piping, and nearly 2 miles of high-pressure natural gas line. A 3D model was developed to represent existing utilities concurrently with design, and merged with building models using a Navisworks viewer to create a comprehensive picture of the CEP site. The utilities model will be an invaluable asset management tool for improving safety and O&M. In addition, Electronic Marker System ball markers were buried with all utilities to enhance future locating accuracy and protection.

New utilities were carefully routed through the matrix of existing utilities and major site constraints without disrupting campus operations. Specialized earth restraining systems, vibration sensors, and jack and bore construction helped protect the nearby Henry Ford Museum, Oakwood Boulevard, Southfield Freeway, and a highly calibrated test track. The CEP’s updated underground infrastructure supports an open, sustainable, green campus to be enjoyed by Ford employees and the Dearborn community.