Goodyear Considering HQ Upgrade

Goodyear is looking to replace its 80-year-old global headquarters in Akron, Ohio. Many within the company believe the existing premises to be obsolete and are concerned about the first impression visitors receive upon entering the aging building.

Eager to keep the tyremaker based in its traditional hometown, an Akron developer has approached Goodyear with a plan to build a new headquarters alongside the company’s technical centre. Once this has been completed it proposes to redevelop the old headquarters into a mixed-use complex housing other office, commercial and retail space.

“If the economics can be worked out, Goodyear will establish a new building for their global headquarters… on existing Goodyear property,” said Akron mayor Don Plusquellic during a news conference on April 11. Plusquellic believes the redeveloped Goodyear campus could create as many as 2,000 new jobs.

The developer proposes to buy Goodyear’s existing property for redevelopment in exchange for constructing two new Goodyear buildings next to the technical centre, and would complete the new complex within two years. It is likely public funds would be used to entice Goodyear into remaining in Akron.

“We are in a global competition,” Plusquellic said. “This company could be headquartered anywhere. We want to do everything we can to make sure we keep them here.”

According to Goodyear’s executive vice president and chief technology officer, Joe Gingo, the tyremaker has not been approached by other states or cities about relocating its corporate headquarters. Gingo was recently appointed head of a company study to examine how a more productive headquarters facility may be created.

“We look forward to taking this from a proposal to a project,” said Gingo.