GM's Design Studios Move to the Technical Center
GM’s Design Studios – GM Technical Center
By 1945, Harley Earl’s design team had grown to the point where they could no longer fit their studio and shop facilities in the Argonaut Building behind the GM’s headquarters in downtown Detroit. The Styling Staff had been forced to move the fabrication shops, the Truck Studio and Industrial Design department to a nearby Fisher Body plant. Mr. Earl knew that separating key functions was at best a short-term solution. He also knew that a permanent solution was under development.
Just prior to World War II, key GM executives began discussing the possibility of creating a GM Technical Center which would include the Styling Staff. In July, 1945, GM’s Chairman Alfred P. Sloan unveiled the Technical Center concept for the first at a business luncheon in New York City. The facility would include GM’s Research Labs and its Engineering, Styling and Manufacturing Staffs. Harley Earl received the assignment to select an architect and co-ordinate the project for GM. GM commissioned Finnish architect Eero Saarinen who would be supported by Earl’s team throughout the project. By October, 1945, a 320 acre site had been selected and purchased in suburban Detroit.
Despite delays in construction brought on by material shortages and the Korean conflict, GM began to occupy the Technical Center in late 1953. Because Saarinen’s architects worked so closely with the GM Styling team on every aspect of the huge project, it is no surprise that the Styling buildings received special attention during the development process. The design studio facility they created has successfully served GM as the center of its design process for more than 50 years. Design organizations around the world have used GM studios as the prototype for their own facilities.
The Tech Center facility also included a huge outdoor viewing patio conveniently located just outside the studio building. A large indoor viewing auditorium was also included in the master plan. It is located at the north end of the viewing patio and connected to the studio building by a series of underground tunnels to enable the fragile clay models to safely transported to reviews regardless of the weather.
The studios spaces were huge and provided the design teams with a spectacular work environment. Each of the 16 studios was 80 ft long and 55 ft wide. Four sets of blackboards were built into the end walls. A unique, continuously lighted ceiling provided the shadow free lighting essential for creating flowing automotive surfaces. The studios continue to impress visitors today just as they did in 1955.
The Styling Building’s (now the Design Center) public spaces and other facilities are recognized to this day as among GM’s most architecturally significant. The hanging stairway in the Lobby of the Styling building provides a dramatic introduction to the character of this unique facility.
Mr. Earl’s stunning office was built using the perfect plank mahogany.
Thanks to the efforts of generations of designers and supportive management, this unique building continues to preserve the mid-century modern design theme created by Harley Earl and Eero Saarinen.
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