DE SOTO, Kansas, December 22, 2022 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, is excited to announce it has been selected by Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group company, to provide primary engineering design and architectural design oversight for Panasonic’s electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in De Soto, Kansas.
Panasonic’s First Standalone EV Battery Facility in the U.S.
Making batteries since the 1930s, Panasonic’s current focus is on bringing EV batteries to the masses. The De Soto facility, the company’s first standalone EV battery facility in the U.S., will help do just that. Panasonic has grown to become the largest lithium-ion battery manufacturer in North America, delivering 6 billion cells and counting. The Japanese-based company’s expansion in De Soto will not only be transformative for the entire state of Kansas—bringing in a projected $2.5 billion in yearly economic activity to make it the largest economic development undertaking in the state’s history—it will also allow Panasonic to ramp up production to meet surging demand and lead the evolution of the EV industry in the U.S.
Carl Walton, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Facilities at Panasonic and the program executive for the De Soto plant, shared, “We’re really excited about making history here in Kansas. We don’t see this as just a facility we’re building, but a legacy. It’s not just about batteries, it’s about changing lives for the better.”
Due to the complexity of the design and size of the facility, the City of De Soto will approve its development plan one phase at a time. Panasonic broke ground on the new plant in November and—along with project partners SSOE and Mackenzie, the contracted architect of record for the production facility—presented preliminary design and civil site plans to the city’s Planning Commission.
SSOE’s Dana Brumley, PE, PMP, who is the design manager on the De Soto plant, commented, “We are deeply honored that Panasonic has invited SSOE on this journey with them. It is a very humbling experience to be a part of such a history-making project. Interacting with Panasonic, the City of De Soto, and the State of Kansas so closely really gives perspective to the magnitude of the project we are delivering. Over the next few years, this project will also be responsible for providing tens of thousands of jobs from construction and facility operations. Panasonic and SSOE are a great fit, the fact that our cultures naturally align has streamlined the ability to communicate and deliver what Panasonic is looking for in this facility.”
A Site to Behold
SSOE’s involvement began at the earliest stage of the project when the firm became engaged in site evaluation efforts with Panasonic’s site selection team. The firm pulled together a team of architects and engineers to guide Panasonic through defining and ranking site criteria, assisting in the evaluation of multiple campus locations. In July, Panasonic ultimately landed on Astra Enterprise Park (formerly the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant), originally constructed in World War II and vacant for a quarter of a century, with 300 acres and hundreds of millions of dollars in incentive packages to go with it. A win for Kansas, this is the first economic development project exceeding a billion dollars for the state and will once again make the location a key economic driver for the region. Two contractors from the greater Kansas City area, Emery Sapp & Sons Inc. and Kissick Construction Co. Inc., have been awarded contracts for site preparation.
In parallel with site evaluation efforts, SSOE worked with Panasonic to generate a preliminary Basis of Design with enough detail to allow the construction manager, Industrial Project Innovation, to forecast a construction estimate in a post-COVID market.
Where Form Meets Function
Designing a facility that aligns with Panasonic’s employee-centric culture continues to be top of mind. The site plan limits interaction between vehicles and pedestrians through a thoughtfully designed parking layout, one-way traffic, separate truck entrance, and site-specific traffic study. Architectural design is still in progress but promises the intelligent integration of production process into building design and spaces throughout to specifically support employees. The U-shaped design of the production facility will frame various support structures and utility buildings that will reside behind it.
At the Forefront of the Transition to EV
SSOE’s combined expertise in the automotive, chemical, and advanced technology markets brings an unparalleled perspective to the design of battery and EV facilities. The firm has worked with the world’s largest and most innovative automotive and battery manufacturing companies to retrofit facilities for EV production, design and construct greenfield EV plants, and support the battery manufacturing process at every point in the supply chain. SSOE is currently engaged in over 25 battery / EV projects in North America and has more than 18 million SF of battery plant design experience that extends throughout the battery lifecycle—from raw materials to recycling.
About Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd.
Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., established in April 2022 as part of the Panasonic Group’s switch to an operating company system, provides innovative battery technology-based products and solutions globally. Through its automotive lithium-ion batteries, storage battery systems, and dry batteries, the company brings safe, reliable, and convenient power to a broad range of business areas, from mobility and social infrastructure to medical and consumer products. Panasonic Energy is committed to contributing to a society that realizes happiness and environmental sustainability, and through its business activities the company aims to address societal issues while taking the lead on environmental initiatives. For more details, please visit www.panasonic.com/global/energy.
About the Panasonic Group
A global leader in developing innovative technologies and solutions for wide-ranging applications in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, industry, communications, and energy sectors worldwide, the Panasonic Group switched to an operating company system on April 1, 2022 with Panasonic Holdings Corporation serving as a holding company and eight companies positioned under its umbrella. Founded in 1918, the Panasonic Group is committed to enhancing the well-being of people and society and conducts its businesses based on founding principles applied to generate new value and offer sustainable solutions for today’s world. The Panasonic Group reported consolidated net sales of 7,388.8 billion yen for the year ended March 31, 2022. Devoted to improving the well-being of people, the Panasonic Group is united in providing superior products and services to help you Live Your Best. To learn more about the Panasonic Group, please visit https://holdings.panasonic/global.
Panasonic Media Contact: PanasonicEnergy@porternovelli.com
