Cummins reopens technical center hub office tower

Pictured left to right: Congressman Greg Pence; Tim Frazier, Cummins VP – Research & Technology; Lucia Lopez, Cummins Americas Tech Ops Supply Chain Manager; Jennifer Rumsey, Cummins Chair and CEO; Brett Merritt, Cummins VP and President - Engine Business; Indiana State Rep. Ryan Lauer; Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon; and Jonathan White, Cummins VP - Engine Business Engineering. (Photo: Business Wire)

Cummins Inc. celebrated the reopening of its worldwide technical center hub office tower in Columbus, Ind. The office tower at the Cummins Technical Center (CTC) on McKinley Avenue had been under renovation since 2021.

The iconic CTC was Cummins’ first and remains its longest-standing tech center. Its design was the work of mid-century modernist designer Harry Weese.

Prior to the CTC’s construction, Cummins had only 50 test cells, with just 15 considered to be in good working order. The completion of the CTC in 1968 added 88 test cells to the portfolio and provided the company’s engineers and scientists with a “world-class facility” to develop new innovations. A significant amount of Cummins’ research and technology gross spend occurs in the CTC.

The office portion of the CTC is a six-story tower with 72,000 sq. ft. of office space on five floors. It holds approximately 500 employees, primarily focused on research and development for Cummins HELM platforms and future technology for North America and global markets.

Largely untouched since its original opening, the CTC office tower now has a newly renovated interior. Renovations focused primarily on the first through fifth floors to allow for improved circulation and collaboration.

The renovated building features a new staircase, two social hubs and inclusive amenities such as gender-neutral restrooms, nursing rooms and quiet spaces. It also includes eight treadmill desks, soft lab zones and expanded collaboration areas with 90 conference rooms of various sizes, including stadium seating.

Jennifer Rumsey, chair and CEO of Cummins, called its reopening “an important milestone for Cummins and our Destination Zero strategy.” She noted that “much of the research and development for our next-generation power solutions start right here in this very hub.”

Tim Frazier, vice president – Research & Technology at Cummins, added: “We are so glad to have our Cummins HELM engineers, technical specialists and innovators together again under the same roof, working as a coordinated team, close to the technology and testing being executed here.”