The Firm will Exhibit with its Subject Matter Experts at Booth #5644
TOLEDO, Ohio, October 1, 2024 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm ranked #2 nationally in manufacturing design by Engineering News-Record, announced today two of its battery / EV subject matter experts will participate in a panel discussion at The Battery Show North America. This event will take place from October 7-10, 2024, at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan.
Panelists for this discussion include SSOE’s Mathew Bierschbach, Principal Business Leader; Turner Construction’s William Kidd, Vice President and General Manager; Kokosing’s Jeff Hollback, DBIA, Project Delivery Director; and Ascend Element’s Roger Lin, Vice President of Government Relations; along with SSOE’s David Semproch, AIA, NCARB, Principal Division Manager, Facilities Northern Operations, who will serve as the moderator.
The panel discussion, titled “Building North America’s First Commercial Scale pCAM Manufacturing Facility,” will take place on Wednesday, October 9th at 1:15 p.m. EST. In this session, the panelists working on this $1 billion greenfield project will discuss the challenges, surprises, and lessons learned during the first 24 months of construction at Ascend Elements’ Apex 1 EV battery material manufacturing campus in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
Attendees will gain unique information and insight about the current state of the construction market for new battery materials manufacturing facilities, learn tactics for beginning construction early while still fundraising and refining product chemistry, and develop a better understanding of how design tactics can expedite early procurement of long lead critical equipment and materials.
The Apex 1 Story: A Greenfield Megasite and First-of-its-Kind Facility in the U.S.
Apex 1, a 140-acre campus, will produce sustainable EV battery precursor (pCAM) and cathode active materials (CAM) for up to 250,000 EVs annually. SSOE partnered with Ascend Elements, a leader in sustainable battery materials, to select and evaluate the site for this flagship facility. During Front End Loading (FEL), SSOE developed a comprehensive site layout, including process, packaging, warehousing, office buildings, a preliminary project schedule, and an execution plan. The team comprised experts in architecture, civil, structural, process, mechanical (HVAC / plumbing), piping, electrical, instrumentation and controls, and estimating.
Throughout the design phase, SSOE collaborated with Ascend Elements and their process technology provider to create an efficient process design, exploring engineering alternatives to enhance project value. SSOE ensured compliance with U.S. codes and standards through regular meetings and continuous BIM / CAD coordination.
SSOE also worked with the Turner Construction Company / Kokosing Industrial joint venture to develop the detailed design for this groundbreaking facility under a design / build contract. This approach optimized contractor-assisted design and Lean deliverables tailored precisely to the contractor’s requirements. This accelerated megasite project engaged 25 firms and more than 600 users across multiple countries on its construction information management platform. Lean leadership and real-time information reduced rework through a suite of tools, including Autodesk Construction Cloud, that virtually replicated co-location for an environment of collective efficiency, earning SSOE the Autodesk Design & Make AEC Best Construction Project Award in 2023.
SSOE: Leading the Charge in Battery / 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 design and retrofit facilities for EV production. SSOE is currently engaged in over 50 battery / EV projects in North America and boasts more than 28 million SF of battery plant design experience that extends throughout the battery lifecycle—from raw materials to recycling.
This is the firm’s third year at The Battery Show North America which brings together engineers, business leaders, top-industry companies, and innovative thinkers to discover ground-breaking products and create powerful solutions for the future. More than 19,000 attendees are expected to take advantage of four full days of educational sessions, networking opportunities, and, of course, explore the latest market innovations from over 1,150 exhibitors across one of the world’s largest battery technology trade shows.
