Daimler Trucks North America broke ground at the site of its new headquarters building on Swan Island in Portland, Ore. New construction will begin immediately on the state-of-the-art new headquarters building which positions the company for long-term prosperity in Portland. Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and City of Portland Mayor Charlie Hales were on hand to join the celebration.
“With our roots firmly planted in Portland over 70 years ago, Daimler Trucks North America is proud to lay the foundation for continued prosperity with a headquarters campus designed for the company’s long-term business success and a world-class workplace for employees,” said Martin Daum, president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America.
"Daimler Trucks North America will remain an important part of Oregon’s economy by investing in our region and producing family-wage jobs,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “Oregon continues to be one of the most competitive states in the nation for advanced manufacturing, and this expansion bolsters that position.”
City of Portland Mayor Charlie Hales said, “We’re proud to invest in the future of Daimler Trucks North America here in the city of Portland. Daimler’s headquarters project will provide jobs for the local workforce and employ a significant number of minority and women contractors as well.”
DTNA is placing a priority on creating an environmentally conscious plan with the goal to achieve LEED Platinum Certification, the most prestigious certification available through the U.S. Green Building Council. During the demolition phase of the project, the company surpassed its goal to recycle at least 96 percent of all demolition material or donate it to The Rebuilding Center in North Portland. In addition, DTNA is working with the Port of Portland to significantly enhance the greenway trail that runs through the property along the Willamette River to promote better access and enjoyment by the public.
New DTNA Headquarters Campus
The total headquarters project requires a $150,000,000 investment by Daimler Trucks North America. Work began in April 2014 to clear the land for construction of the new building, and new construction will begin immediately with project completion slated for early 2016.
The new 268,000 square foot corporate headquarters building will serve two distinct functions: to merge DTNA employees currently located in offices separated by the Willamette River and to accommodate approximately 400 new positions in Portland that the company anticipates it will need in conjunction with future business growth.
Architectural plans for the new headquarters will incorporate the latest technologies and features for increased operational effectiveness and enhanced employee experience. Aesthetically, the design will be aligned with contemporary Portland architecture and allow for public access to the riverfront.
All of the company’s main partners for the project are based in Portland, including Ankrom Moisan for architectural design, Hoffman Corporation for construction contracting and inici group for project management.
DTNA’s History Rooted in Portland
In the 1940s, Leland James began manufacturing trucks in Portland as the Freightliner Corporation. In 1981, Daimler-Benz AG (now Daimler AG), one of the world’s premier automotive companies and builder of heavy-duty commercial vehicles, purchased Freightliner Trucks from Consolidated Freightways, and in the following decade, vehicle sales more than doubled. With its vast technological resources, Daimler-Benz helped Freightliner Trucks reach the top of the North American heavy-duty truck market by 1992. Today, DTNA is North America’s leading manufacturer of commercial vehicles, selling approximately 140,000 commercial vehicles annually, including significant export sales worldwide.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Ore., is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. It manufactures, sells, and services commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star, Detroit, and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company.