Japanese Oasis Constructed in Southeast Michigan
ABC SEMI member Cunningham-Limp builds Michigan’s most holistically sustainable commercial building
Just off from Interstate 696 in Farmington Hills, construction crews sit building the new Japanese Solderless Terminals’ 10-acre headquarters. The 16,000 square-foot building will encapsulate the harmony between people and nature.
“Before even breaking ground, the land was studied for quite some time to learn the migration patterns down to the tiniest of insects so when we started construction, we didn’t disrupt the land,” said marketing and communication manager for Cunningham-Limp Savanna Pace. “This really sets the mood for the project and our team as they work to build this non-traditional space.”
In Japanese culture, the efforts to be in harmony with nature and prevent disruptions to the site’s ecosystem and biodiversity helps employees’ satisfaction at work. Differing from working in corporate America, the design will offer a unique experience each day JST employees come to work.
The team at Cunningham Limp broke ground in 2019 after years of detailed planning and introduced the first finished building—The Test Lab—last fall. Walking into the test lab, you’re greeted by timber harvested on site and repurposed in its stunning paneled walls and beams. The detailed approach to keep light switches, thermostats and fire alarms centered on the panels provides the requested feng shui from the owners.
“This project emphasized details more than any project I have ever been a part of,” said Cunningham-Limp project manager Jake Gardner. “This building tells a story about cohabitation. Every detail is intentional, the materials used share a purpose and when we’re done, the land will be better than when we started.”
One of the major green aspects is the 16-mile geothermal field that runs 455 feet below the ground. The field will use Earth’s core to maintain a temperature of 55 degrees in the buildings, driving down the energy spent on heating and cooling.
In striking contrast to traditional construction methods and materials, there will be no drywall, paint, structured steel, catch basins, storm pipes, carpet or other synthetic products used at all. Gardner did note the challenge to honor this request while also keeping to building codes.
The building features thatched and green roofs, naturally harvested stone and bonderized metal. Following the Japanese approach to design, every element has meaning and purpose.
“This building is a historical project and it’s an honor to get to tour the space,” said ABC SEMI president and CEO Keith Ledbetter. “The craftsmanship and attention to detail, all while honoring another culture’s customs shows the high-level Cunningham-Limp operates on. We’re glad to have companies like this representing ABC in southeast Michigan.”
JST, which manufactures a variety of connectors, terminals and splices, is currently located in Farmington Hills, just around the corner from the new site. The company’s new site office will include space for research, testing, engineering and sales. Between 30 and 60 employees will work on the site.
“We always pour everything into every project we take on, but no project compares to the level of artistry that has gone into this and I think we’ll all be talking about the project well into retirement,” said Matt Sportel, director of construction for Cunningham-Limp.
Headquartered in Novi, Michigan, Cunningham-Limp is a full-service construction management organization focused on building better communities. Led by a team of engineers, construction professionals, real estate experts and financial advisors, Cunningham-Limp delivers solutions by actively managing projects from concept through completion. Learn more at cunninghamlimp.com.
