Construction work is starting to gear down on the seven-story, 252,000-square-foot American Axle and Manufacturing (AAM) headquarters building in Detroit.

A short ceremony on March 31 marked the beginning of the end, when iron workers placed the final 50,000-lb. pre-cast section of the headquarters' 160,000-square-foot, 650-spot parking deck. The joint venture of Alberici Constructors and Clayco Construction Co. and the building trades are working together to get the building ready for the first group of employees to move into their new offices in July.

Located at the northeast corner of Holbrook and I-75, the new $32 million headquarters building will serve about 700 employees and consolidate several corporate departments on the existing campus and other offices in Michigan under one roof.

When AAM co-founder, Chairman and CEO Richard E. Dauch joined with two investors to purchase the assets of what would become American Axle & Manufacturing from General Motors Corporation in 1994, they committed to rebuilding and revitalizing not only the manufacturing facilities but also surrounding areas. Abandoned houses and run-down buildings were purchased and torn down, and roads, sewers, sidewalks and lighting were improved. The result was the creation of a 174-acre industrial campus that includes an extensive greenbelt.

"We focused on creating modern manufacturing facilities and producing a safe and productive working environment for our associates," Dauch said. "We are proud to say that in 1994 we were the first multibillion-dollar company to locate its headquarters in the City of Detroit in more than 20 years, and as we pursue our strategy of selective global growth, we have elected to remain headquartered in Detroit."

AAM manufactures, engineers, designs and validates driveline systems and related components and modules, chassis systems and forged products for trucks, buses, sport utility vehicles and passenger cars. The company has 14 locations in the U.S. as well as several off-shore facilities.

The new headquarters building was constructed of a reflective glass curtain wall, and architectural precast panels with limestone accents at the front entry. The building includes a 300-seat cafeteria and 300-seat auditorium on the first floor, a two-story lobby with bridges, and an open floor plan throughout.

We weren't allowed access to take photos inside the tower - but the trades had the construction of the parking deck humming along. During our visit, flatbed trucks, one after another, backed into the tight site, and their load was immediately lifted into place.

"Over the last three-and-a-half weeks, we must have set a record for productivity," said Iron Workers Local 25 general foreman Danny Crawford, who was working with raising gang foreman Mark Grasso. "We've had 30 to 35 trucks a day through here, and when the trucks were running on time, we were in great shape."

IRON WORKERS Local 25 members marked the occasion of placing the final pre-cast section on the parking deck of the American Axle headquarters in Detroit on March 31.