DTE Dearborn Central Energy Plant is a new energy plant on Ford Motor Company’s campus in Dearborn, Michigan. The new facility is part of a modernization of the campus.

OPN approached Zahner as a design assist partner to help “beautify” the new Central Energy Plant by adding a series of twisted fins developed to clad the precast building with large windows. Zahner responded by providing design iterations for the twisted fins, engineering input, and multiple mockups. The fins provide an aesthetic signifying visual movement desired by the design team as well as shading the window areas and providing thermal comfort for occupants.