. Kia Celebrates Groundbreaking of New $70 Million
Southern California-Based Corporate Campus
Plans for New $17-Million
Kia Design Center Also Announced
IRVINE, Calif. - Peter M.
Butterfield, president and CEO of Kia Motors America, was joined by local
and state representatives for the groundbreaking ceremony of Kia's new
U.S. corporate campus in Irvine, Calif. The $70 million investment
reaffirms Kia's commitment to offer stylish, safe and affordable vehicles
in the U.S. market. Construction of the new 236,000 square-foot corporate
campus is expected to be completed by December 2006.
During the groundbreaking
ceremony, Kia also announced plans to build a $17-million, 65,000
square-foot design center as part of the "phase two" build-out
of the property. The two-story, state-of-the-art building will share a
similar design theme with the corporate campus but will have a distinct
look. Currently, Kia and Hyundai share the Hyundai-Kia Motors Design and
Technical Center, which houses more than 100 auto designers, engineers,
model makers and technicians in Irvine, Calif. The Hyundai-Kia technical
center will eventually house the Hyundai design team only, which will
enable the two brands to produce distinctive designs that appeal to
consumers.
"Kia is committed to the
U.S. as seen in our $87-million investment in the new corporate campus and
design center," said Kia Motors America president and CEO Peter M.
Butterfield. "This will enable us to develop products specifically
for Kia that are designed and tuned for North American consumers."
The new corporate campus,
bordered on one side by the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5), will house
approximately 400 employees from various business units, including sales,
marketing, consumer affairs, technical service, product planning,
research, development and administration. The custom-built, modern
structure employs dynamic glass and steel elements, including an all-glass
"floating bridge" that connects two separate buildings, which
are adjoined by a spacious 10,000 square-foot lobby with soaring 30-foot
ceilings. The front and rear of the lobby will feature floor to ceiling
glass walls, and create a spacious, light-filled gathering place for
employees and guests while providing picturesque views of the local
Saddleback Mountains.
Additional design features
include a 36,000 square-foot reflecting pool, an outdoor amphitheatre, an
employee cafe and a fitness center. Unique window treatments and lush,
terraced landscaped areas complement the design and draw inspiration from
subtle Asian influences representing Kia's Korean heritage.
