Continental lays corner stone for new HQ in Hanover

Hanover, Germany — Continental Corp. has officially marked the construction of its new global headquarters in Hanover with the ceremonial laying of a foundation stone.

Placed inside the stone was a copper time capsule that contained a piece of rubber from the tire production facilities, a copy of the most recent employee magazine and a core component of electric vehicle power electronics developed by Continental.

"These objects," the company said in an 8 May news release, "symbolise both the roots and the future of the technology company."

The project construction began in March and is set for completion in 2021, the year in which Continental will mark its 150th anniversary.

The new HQ will comprise multiple buildings across two campuses on the north and south sides of the Hans-Boeckler-Allee highway.

Pedestrian overpasses will connect the two campuses, the longest of which will span the highway.

The new facilities will have enough space for 1,600 workers, but initially it will house 1,250 Continental employees.

"In the future, we will work and collaborate differently," said CEO and president Elmar Degenhart.

"We will give our employees greater flexibility. We will help them to organise their own working patterns and collaborate across divisions,” he added.