Volvo Cars University

The Design-Build team of Kahn-HITT completed the first Volvo Car University, a 90,000-square-foot facility that plays a critical role in Volvo's movement toward fully electric vehicles and a more sustainable future. The building earned LEED Gold certification and the 2022 USGBC Carolinas Leadership Award for Advancing Sustainable Technologies, reinforcing the program's mission and creating a healthy, inspiring environment for employees.

Sustainability Goals

Project goals emphasized low-impact design and sustainability through energy and water efficiency, renewable energy, and dedicated space for green vehicles. A strong connection to nature runs throughout the building, established through natural daylight, outside views, 100% fresh air ventilation, living garden walls, and natural materials.

Communication was essential to the project's success. The integrative design-build effort required all disciplines, consultants, and the construction team to collaborate closely and maintain open discussion throughout the process to achieve LEED Gold certification.

Design and Site

The building sits across from Volvo's Assembly Plant in Ridgeville. Embodying the Volvo brand, the refined exterior highlights Scandinavian functional design, with a color palette inspired by Volvo's global color standards that visually connects the building to the adjacent campus.

Building Layout

The four-story building includes:

• First floor: Large food service and café space for employees

• Second floor: Collaborative learning and laboratory space

• Third floor: Call center, open workspace for traveling teams, and conference rooms

• Fourth floor: Large executive conference room and open workspaces

• Roof: Open terrace