HARMAN cuts ribbon on expanded Novi HQ to accommodate growth

HARMAN International Industries opened its new headquarters in Novi this week, and it is already starting to feel full.

The connected technologies firm started designing the headquarters three years ago when it had about 750 people working there. Today its staff at the headquarters has reached 1,000 people and is still growing.

"It's pretty close to capacity at the moment," says Darrin Shewchuk, senior director of corporate communications for HARMAN. "We're growing really rapidly."

HARMAN specializes in making connected technologies for automotive, consumer and enterprise markets. It engineers and develops the advanced technology solutions for the connected car, automotive audio, and cloud services. HARMAN has revenues of $6.5 billion and employs 25,000 around the world, including 1,000 at its Novi headquarters.

HARMAN's recently opened North American headquarters measures out to 188,000 square feet and anchors the 400-acre Haggerty Corridor Corporate Park. The new building includes engineering labs for advanced connected car technologies, infotainment design studios, a state-of-the-art audio listening room, a full cinema quality 5.1 surround sound theater, and a full-scale pilot factory. It also features several employee amenities, like a fitness center, locker rooms, cafeteria, collaboration spaces, and an outdoor deck and patio space.

"We want to make the work environment as amenable to employees as possible," Shewchuk says. "Everybody is trying to perfect their work-life balance. Our desire is to help them achieve that."

Source: Darrin Shewchuk, senior director of corporate communications for HARMAN
Writer: Jon Zemke

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