TOLEDO, Ohio, June 4, 2019 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, is proud to announce that they have been selected to provide all A/E services for the Kenworth Truck Company’s $140 Million Plant Expansion located in Chillicothe, Ohio.
SSOE is providing architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design services for this state-of-the-art 120,000 SF paint facility expansion. This facility is home to Kenworth’s Class 8 truck assembly plant, which produces their T680, T880, and W990 models.
The project’s groundbreaking took place in late April, which officially kicked off construction. The new addition, located adjacent to the current 502,000 SF plant, represents a nearly 25% increase to the current plant footprint and is expected to be fully operational in 2021. SSOE is partnering with construction manager Rudolph Libbe Group on this project. Together, SSOE and Rudolph Libbe have completed numerous expansion projects at this same Kenworth site including the Chassis Abatement RTO system, Painted Parts Automated Storage and Retrieval System Penthouse, and the Robotic Build Cell.
Scott Speer, PE, PMP, LEED AP, Senior Project Manager and Senior Associate at SSOE, stated, “While this project is dynamic and has many facets for design, which can yield challenges, our team’s understanding of automotive paint processes and requirements allows us to successfully complete the facility design for these complex projects—nearly 30 to-date. We are always excited to be a part of our client’s success and look forward to continuing our relationship as a valued team member to both Kenworth and Rudolph Libbe.”
As a Top 5 Automotive Design Firm for the past decade (Engineering News-Record), SSOE’s roster of clients manufactures more than 50% of the cars sold in the world and includes BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota to name a few. They are also responsible for the design of Volkswagen’s ACEC award-winning automotive assembly plant in Tennessee. SSOE’s performance speaks for itself, historically their design pays for itself—literally—SSOE’s designs have returned 173% of their fee to automotive clients in cost savings.
