At the official grand opening of its new 200,000 square foot headquarters in Sandy Springs, Ga., Mercedes-Benz USA announced plans to launch a new global innovation hub called Lab1886 in Atlanta this summer.
Along with MBUSA president and chief executive officer Dietmar Exler, the ceremony included Governor of Georgia Nathan Deal; Mayor of Atlanta Keisha Lance Bottoms; and Axel Harries, Daimler vice president sales Mercedes-Benz Cars and product management Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars.
The new headquarters is made entirely of glass that is supported by a steel structure. An estimated 1.6 acres of glass make up the facility, the company said.
“All the stars are aligned. Our new Atlanta headquarters marks a highpoint for Mercedes-Benz in the U.S. market,” said Exler said in a news release. “Not just in terms of being the leading luxury brand in the U.S. for the past two years, but also in terms of this building which is designed from the inside out to enable a creative, innovative and empowered workforce more representative of a start-up than a conventional corporation.”
Harries shared Daimler’s plans to establish a global innovation hub called Lab1886 in Atlanta to open in the summer to help drive innovation.
The company said the Atlanta entity will combine the expertise of big corporation with the spirit of a startup.
“In the last few years, we have watched Atlanta carefully: Excellent colleges and universities are offering highly skilled and motivated graduates, and more and more innovative technology and digital companies make their home here. Atlanta is a true city of the future – a perfect match for Mercedes-Benz,” Harries explained. “We will build the fourth Lab1886 opening here in Atlanta this summer.”
Lab1886 joins three existing locations in Beijing, Berlin and Stuttgart.
In addition to a nature trail that encircles the building and more than 780 trees, the new headquarters 12-acre campus includes a conference center, a coffee bar, a 5,000 square foot fitness center and an on-site child care facility.
The facility is located near Georgia 400, at the intersection of Mercedes-Benz Drive.