Bridgestone executives and local government officials are celebrating the grand opening of a new state-of-the-art Americas Technical Center in Akron, Ohio. The $100-million facility houses 450 employees who develop "innovative and advanced tire technologies" for the company.
Like this article? Sign up to receive our weekly news blasts here.The structure has been built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold specifications, which means it was designed and constructed to have “the highest performance in human and environmental health.”
A variety of materials from the company’s Firestone Building Products division were used in helping the facility meet the requirements. “This has been a center of innovation for more than a century. We’ve helped put the world on wheels. Literally, millions of miles have been driven on Bridgestone and Firestone tires designed right here in Akron,” says CEO and President Gary Garfield. “But while we are proud of our past and the history and heritage of our great company, today is about looking to the future – to writing the next chapter in the story of our organization. And it all starts right here at this new technical center.”
“The dedication of the Bridgestone Americas Technical Center reaffirms Akron’s role as a center for innovation in the polymer industry. We are proud to have been home to the Firestone brand for 112 years with its legacy in auto racing, quality engineered tires and rubber products,” says Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic.
“I am grateful to Bridgestone for its display of confidence in Akron. We have been pleased to partner with the company in the development of this project as well as the continued growth and development of the Firestone Park neighborhood around the new Bridgestone Americas Technical Center,” he adds.
Harvey S. Firestone founded the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. in Akron in 1900 and completed the company’s headquarters and technical center on Firestone Parkway in 1911.
Bridgestone bought Firestone in 1988, “transforming the companies’ combined operations into the world’s largest tire and rubber company, and making Akron one of only three technical centers for the company worldwide – the two other technical centers are in Tokyo, Japan and Rome, Italy,” says Garfield.
For more information, visit www.bridgestonetire.com.
