The Human Bridge: 100 Years of Innovation and Creative Reuse at Ford’s Engineering Lab

Ford’s Engineering Lab celebrates 100 years of innovation, creative reuse, and restoration, evolving from a 1924 design hub to a modern space that honors its historic legacy.

The Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn campus, just outside Detroit, has evolved significantly since 1915, anchored by the historic Ford Engineering Laboratory (FEL), which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Designed by famed industrial architect Albert Kahn, the FEL was a groundbreaking space for vehicle design and testing when it opened in 1924, featuring one of the largest open office layouts of its time.

The building’s motto, “Mankind passes from the old to the new on a human bridge,” embodies Ford’s spirit of innovation and collaboration.

Throughout its history, FEL has adapted to various roles within Ford, including housing engineering and design teams. A 1949 Ford film, The Human Bridge, showcased the lab’s role in developing post-war models like the Super Deluxe.

Major renovations began in the 1950s and continued over the decades, though FEL was decommissioned in 2007 before being revived as part of Ford’s Campus Renovation project in 2015.

Recent renovations have restored much of FEL’s original design, including uncovering vaulted steel ceilings and reintroducing natural light through new skylights.

The space now houses the Ford Archives and features modern amenities like acoustic panels, meeting rooms, and flexible seating to support collaborative work. Historic elements, such as metal columns and height markings left by Henry Ford, have been carefully preserved.