Hyundai's New $150-Million Headquarters Will Have Floating Glass Floors

Fountain Valley-based Hyundai Motor America released the first details Tuesday about its new $150-million headquarters.

The building will sit on the same site as its predecessor, which the Korean automaker has occupied for 20 years. Designed by renowned architecture and design firm Gensler, the six-story building will feature "floating translucent glass floors," an inner courtyard and a vehicle showroom visible from the 405 Freeway.

"This new national headquarters represents Hyundai’s vision for the future and reflects the innovation and creativity that our brand has come to represent," said Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik, in a press release. "It also reflects our commitment to invest in and benefit the communities in which we operate around the world."

The building's $150-million price tag represents the largest investment ever made by Hyundai in a U.S.-based office building. At 419,000 square feet, the structure will be almost twice the size of the old building. An adjacent 50,000-square-foot technical services building and a parking structure are also planned.

The building will be LEED-certified, targeting the gold level. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification process measuring the sustainability of a building's design, construction and operations.

Demolition of the old building is currently underway. Construction of the new headquarters will begin this spring and take about 19 months, finishing by the fall of 2013. During the demolition and construction, Hyundai employees will work in temporary office space in Costa Mesa.