Toyota has broken ground on its new North American headquarters in Plano, Texas, using one of its own (San Antonio-built) V8 powered Tundra pickup trucks fitted with a plough.
Toyota also unveiled an installation during the ceremony: the word ‘TOYOTA’ in large letters, standing 10 feet tall and 64 feet wide. Inside each letter are native Texan Yaupon Holly trees, which represent ‘wish’ trees, a Japanese cultural tradition. Students from the Plano ISD Academy High School and community participants contributed to the event by adding handwritten notes to the trees representing their wishes, dreams, hopes and inspirations. The notes will be collected from the holly trees and placed into a time capsule at the new headquarters. The trees will be planted permanently once the campus is complete.
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“The support and encouragement we’ve received from the community, civic leaders, business partners and nearby corporations has been nothing short of tremendous,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor North America chief executive officer. “Our goal is to build an environmentally-sustainable campus that our new neighbours will welcome and our team members and associates will be proud to call home.”
Since announcing the relocation in April 2014, Toyota has purchased property; hired a developer, architect and project manager and filed a preliminary site plan with the city. The company is now engaged in the design process, and formal construction is set to begin within weeks. Completion is expected by late 2016 or early 2017.
Local reports said Toyota earlier filed details of 11 buildings for the 100-acre site on the Legacy business park. Near neighbours include JC Penney, Pepsi, Intuit, McAfee, Frito-Lay and Ericsson. Around 4,000 Toyota staffers will work at the site, many moving from the current main campus in Torrance, California.
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