office of a lifetime
Before stepping down from his role as CEO of Ford Motor Company, Jim Hackett was already planning his future office, a dedicated space that could suit a variety of business interests. Known as Haiceid—a Gaelic spelling of his name pronounced “Hackade”—he envisioned a CEO Lab equipped with the latest technology for workshops and presentations. As a philanthropic hub, the office would connect worthy causes with the Hackett Family Foundation. He also wanted a place to meet with startups alongside his two sons. To achieve the balance, Hackett and his team reached out to AMDG.
Assisted by the project lead from AMDG, Hackett toured several downtown properties before landing on a building designed in the 1880s for the Grand Rapids Refrigerator Company. With space for private offices, a work lab, and the 35 years’ worth of archives and memorabilia, the suite had plenty of room while still feeling inviting and personal.
Well-versed in overcoming the challenges of upgrading a historic building to meet 21st century work life needs, AMDG skillfully navigated code implications, found creative ways to conceal unsightly mechanicals, and even came up with acoustic solutions for the disruptive creaks and footsteps that often plague older buildings. To bring the vision to life, AMDG partnered with Scott Christopher Homes, Custer, Steelcase, and TechConnect all of whom shared a belief in close collaboration.
While top executives almost always occupy spacious, well-appointed offices, few get to actually design one. After serving as a CEO for more than three decades, Haiceid was a chance for Hackett to finally put his personal stamp on a space. In the process, he experienced a palpable tension between how he wanted to work and how he wanted that work to be portrayed.
“This is why you need a great architect,” he points out, “First, you need to find the tension. Only then, can you birth great design.” Executing the vision took a combination of technical expertise, creative problem-solving, and total collaboration—fitting for a business leader who has made teamwork his hallmark.
space to connect
Haiceid wanted its CEO Lab—a space for CEOs to wrestle through complex challenges—to feel innovative, inviting, and fully tech-enabled. From 3D imaging and presentation tools to three-way cameras that make the room itself feel like a participant in the meeting, technology is intuitively woven into the space to help executives connect and share ideas.
inspiration through and through
Rather than a showcase filled with “ego walls,” Haiceid is where a business success story gradually unfolds. From his early life in Ohio to his playing days at the University of Michigan to serving at the helm of Steelcase and Ford Motor Company, Jim Hackett’s life and career are curated in the form of shadow boxes that express his ideas and passions.
seeing ideas come to life
To overcome the COVID project timeframe, the design process was supported by advanced collaboration and visualization tools. This allowed AMDG to share renderings, present ideas, and thoughtfully listen to feedback in real time. Even when working remotely, the Haiceid team was able to make informed functional and aesthetic decisions at every point in the design process.
