Toyota breaks ground on New facility in Plano Texas Headquarters

With the help of a Tundra pickup truck equipped with a plow, Toyota’s North America CEO, Jim Lentz broke ground on the company’s new North American Headquarters in Plano.

The 1 million-square-foot campus will be located on a 100-acre plot of land off of Headquarters Drive and is expected to house nearly 4,000 employees as the company consolidates multiple corporate divisions of its operation. It’s a move Lentz said will help to better serve Toyota’s customers and the surrounding communities.

Toyota also revealed 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 and community participants also contributed to this event by adding handwritten notes to the trees representing their wishes, hopes, dreams 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 forever once the Toyota headquarters is completed and will represent the long-standing friendship between Japan and the United States and the Company’s commitment to the Plano community.

“This is a day for new beginnings in Texas, and in that spirit we’re excited to break new ground,” Lentz said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “We’re confident that this campus will reflect the values of our company and those of our new neighbors. ... We’ll continue to build a foundation for our relationship between Toyota, the city of Plano and all of the North Texas communities our team members and associates will very soon call home.”

 

“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 neighbors will welcome and our team members and associates will be proud to call home.”

“We believe in building close to where our customers are, it’s good for local economies, it’s good for communities and it’s great for our dealer partners,” Lentz said at the Chamber meeting. “Strong sales momentum and a recovering economy have positioned the auto industry, as well as Toyota, for six years of consecutive growth. At the same time, we strengthen our commitment to Plano, as our company, our team members and our associates ... grow in our new home. We’re poised to achieve Toyota’s vision of enriching society through building vehicles.”

The $350 million campus is being developed by KDC with the architectural firm Corgan, two Dallas-based companies. JLL will be the project manager of the development. According to Lentz, the campus will incorporate native vegetation that requires minimal watering on all its landscaping, and will use reclaimed water for watering. As an example, and a symbolic move, the company plans to plant six holly trees, which were adorned with the hopes and wishes of Plano ISD students at the ceremony.

Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere joined Lentz, addressing about 100 dignitaries and Toyota “Pioneers” – team members and associates who have already made the move to North Texas.

“Today’s groundbreaking event marks another milestone for the future of Toyota and the future of the City of Plano,” he said. “Toyota has already proven to be a great corporate citizen and neighbor and we look forward to the continued impact they will have not only on Plano but on the whole North Texas region.”

“Breaking ground in Plano is an exciting and tangible demonstration of the great progress we are making in bringing our major North American business affiliates and leaders together in one location for the first time,” said Mike Groff, President and CEO of Toyota Financial Services. “As we create this best place to work for our people, we will strengthen our ability to put customers first and make a meaningful difference in the communities we are privileged to serve.”

The plan is to open the new headquarters in late 2016 or early 2017.