Mercedes-Benz Opens Bigger Doors at AllianceTexas

FORT WORTH—Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC of Daimler Financial Services Group has maintained a presence in Texas since 1991 and has called AllianceTexas home since 2007, when the company centralized operations from several US locations. Mercedes-Benz recently celebrated the opening of the new 200,000-square-foot Fort Worth Business Center at the 26,000-acre master-planned mixed-use development.

The company’s leadership team, employees, project partners, community partners and local dignitaries joined to commemorate the completion with a tree-dedication ceremony, signifying Mercedes-Benz Financial Services’ deep roots in the community and longstanding commitment to the region. President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Financial Peter Zieringer says the company believes its workplace must be reflective of its high brand standards and cultural modernization.

“Our company has experienced considerable growth in the last decade and we determined the best decision was to create a new, modern workplace that would inspire collaboration and creativity,” Zieringer tells GlobeSt.com. “Everything about the new Fort Worth Business Center is designed to support the employees that call it home, from allowing them to use the space how they prefer to with amenities that help them be more productive during the workday. The decision to remain within AllianceTexas also allows our employees to maintain their housing situation, routine and commute, making it an easy transition into a new facility.”

As a result of the company’s decision to update its facilities while remaining within AllianceTexas, approximately 900 direct and indirect jobs have been retained in Fort Worth. The new business center is located less than a mile from its previous business center.

“We are proud Mercedes-Benz Financial Services has called our development home since 2007. It is because of long-term partnerships like the one we share with them, one of the nation’s top corporations and automotive financial services providers, that AllianceTexas has become one of the most successful corridors in the nation to do business,” said Mike Berry, president of Hillwood. “This year, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of AllianceTexas, Hillwood’s signature project, as well as Mercedes-Benz Financial Services’ decision to continue to grow their deep roots in the Fort Worth community and the North Texas region for many years to come.”

The four-story center offers amenities that promote collaboration, team building and healthy choices. And, it is designed to support employees with technology solutions that create a collaborative workplace environment.

“A cross-functional committee of employees drove this project from day one,” said Zieringer. “Additionally, a team of employee delegates were engaged to be the voice of the workforce, influencing decisions, such the open-office plan, the building’s materials that make up the look and feel of the space, food options in the café, workout spaces, among many others.” The design of the business center is built with flexibility and ease-of-use in mind, while simultaneously blending in with the site’s natural beauty. The naturally lit open atrium offers ample gathering space with views of the lake and campus grounds. And, the LEED-certified facility utilizes a drip irrigation system to assist with water conservation for native plants that are drought-resistant.

One of the facility’s main features is the integration of advanced technology to enhance operations. Upon entering the building, employees and guests are greeted by facial recognition software, creating a safer and seamless control experience. Features such as room controllers and occupancy sensors are also present in meeting rooms, collecting real-time usage metrics and providing data on how to efficiently manage and make use of the spaces.

The center incorporates both a permanent art collection and an annual art exhibition of selected works from Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University artists through the company’s Experiencing Perspectives art program. By relocating to a larger and more advanced office, Mercedes-Benz has the ability to include technology-based modern art forms such as digital and LED art into its space.

“The opening of our Fort Worth Business Center is an investment in our talented workforce, in the transformation of our company, and in the purpose of who we are and how we deliver world-class service to our customers and dealers,” said Zieringer.

In addition to the advanced technology, Mercedes-Benz’s investment to its workforce includes inspiring employees to lead healthier, more active lifestyles by integrating wellness options throughout the building. The Body Shop, an onsite fitness center, provides treadmills, free weights, group exercise classes and access to two full-time personal trainers.

Employees have access to a basketball court suitable for half-court games, a jogging or walking trail surrounding a nearby lake, dining areas circling a grill and covered seating for group activities. The third-floor terrace is another open-air amenity designed to connect employees to each other and the outdoors.

An on-site café offers a variety of healthy food and beverage options, while the gourmet coffee bar offers many types of beverages and grab-and-go fare. For a boost in productivity, employees can also take advantage of the nap pods throughout the day.

For millions of workers, the idea of being able to take a quick power nap sounds like, well, a dream. Good news: More companies are taking the connection between sleep and wellness seriously, based on information that shows well-rested workers are more productive and happier too, according to sleep.org.

The science behind napping has long been established: a nap during the day can lower stress levels, improve moods and increase alertness. And working a power nap into a daily schedule is often easy because the ideal length is only about 20 minutes. This sweet spot is just enough time to restore energy without causing too much disruption to work duties.

Other companies such as Google and Zappos are installing napping pods so employees can rest and rejuvenate during the workday, according to Decoist.