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$100 million documented project savings to date with additional savings anticipated.

A well-known electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has partnered with a leading non-domestic battery producer to develop an advanced battery chemistry aimed at enhancing EV performance. The goal of this collaboration is to offer customers improved battery value, durability, and fast-charging capabilities. To realize this vision, SSOE—a seasoned design firm with extensive experience in the EV and battery manufacturing sector—was selected to lead the engineering design and execution of the groundbreaking $1.5 billion investment.

SSOE partnered with construction firm Walbridge to implement a design / build delivery method. Since the project’s inception, all stakeholders worked closely to ensure unified project recommendations aligned with schedules and budgets. SSOE’s responsibilities encompassed the entire facility design, programming, and engineering.

The nearly 2 million SF facility includes production space and ancillary buildings supporting the main manufacturing area. Drawing on insights from the client’s existing battery manufacturing facilities, SSOE adapted their foreign manufacturing processes, building design, equipment, and layout to meet U.S. codes and standards throughout all design phases.

This greenfield battery plant marks the first U.S. location for the foreign client and will serve as their flagship facility in North America. Leveraging SSOE’s expertise in foreign direct investment, we’ve ensured a seamless transition for this global manufacturer as they establish operations in the U.S. Once operational, the plant is expected to add more than 18 GWh of battery capacity and employ over 2,500 workers, contributing to the local economy and advancing sustainable transportation.

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A pioneering battery manufacturer known for its high-density silicon-anode batteries is embarking on an ambitious expansion project. The company is converting a former Kmart distribution center into a state-of-the-art production plant. This move represents a significant leap from R&D to pilot manufacturing, to scaling up the production of their cutting-edge batteries used in phones, drones, military applications, and electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVTL) vehicles.

SSOE Group, with its recognized architectural and engineering design expertise in the battery manufacturing market, has partnered with Turner Construction to develop and construct the 775,000 SF facility, which is part of a more extensive 1.2 million SF multi-tenant complex. Phase 1 is engineered to have a production capacity of 500 megawatt-hours of battery power once in production.

Turner took the helm with site selection, evaluating potential sites across the U.S. Ultimately, a site in the west was selected offering an optimal climate, suitable humidity levels, and a robust utility infrastructure, complete with existing substations and the possibility for future expansions.

A rezoning effort was necessary to transition from a warehouse-only designation to one that includes manufacturing capabilities. SSOE and Turner provided expert support to a subsequent community engagement campaign, which was launched to dispel misconceptions and provide transparent information about the facility’s operations and processes. Despite facing initial resistance and a legal challenge
against the city, the rezoning efforts were successful, allowing the project to move forward.

Addressing the challenges presented by the brownfield site, SSOE’s team had to overcome layout limitations, which led to the design of an additional structure and modifications to the ceilings to create a suitable cleanroom environment. Moreover, relocating the process line from China to the U.S. required a detailed plan to comply with the diverse standards and regulations concerning electrical systems, utilities,
and piping, ensuring a seamless transition.

This company’s commitment to innovation and overcoming challenges, while harnessing the advantages of the environment and topography, position them to help transform the battery industry with its high-quality, dense power solutions.

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SSOE provided facility master planning, design, and engineering services for the 13,849 SF expansion and the 32,778 SF renovation of the Natural Science Technology Campus (NSTC). The project reconfigured existing classrooms and support spaces to provide each classroom with flexible learning environments for enhanced 21st-Century learning and the expansion of grade levels. In addition to the interior renovations within the existing building, two new additions were added to provide a timber framed multi-purpose space, eight additional classrooms, and additional restroom facilities, among other infrastructure improvements.

As part of the overall design strategy, major enhancements to the exterior were incorporated into the facility expansion / renovation. These improvements included the installation of new window systems in key locations, strategic upgrades to the exterior envelope, a redesigned and reskinned building entry with an added wood timber framed canopy, and a completely new roofing system for the entire existing structure.

The interior enhancements feature upgraded finishes, advanced technology and WiFi, improved lighting and power, modern casework, ADA-compliant door hardware, flexible furniture, and increased natural light in previously windowless areas. Notable elements include the hanging acoustical lily pads in the corridor, simulated wood-wrapped TV areas, and nature-inspired finishes, colors, materials, and graphic panels.

The goal for the NSTC was to provide spaces that reflect Toledo Public School’s mission and purpose. As TPS’s design partner, SSOE aligned architecture, interior design, and branding in the first phase of the facility’s renovations. Regardless of size, SSOE approaches every project with the same design passion and programming to ensure the client’s needs and expectations are met.

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Our architectural team collaborated with HGA and Acoustic Distinctions on the design of the new 175,000 SF Corn Center for the Visual Arts in historic downtown Columbus. The facility provides Columbus State
University’s nationally accredited art and theater programs with state-of-the-art program spaces.

The Center provides individual “area of interest” creative studios, including classrooms, gallery, and exhibition space. Other facilities include a 350-seat proscenium theatre, a 150-seat “Black Box” studio
theatre, classrooms, lecture halls, and rehearsal spaces. Both the Art and Theatre disciplines include multiple computer and graphics labs. The consolidation of Art and Theatre adjacent to the existing Downtown Schwob School of Music consolidates all of the arts into CSU’s RiverPark campus.

We provided structural engineering for the entire project. In addition, we provided MEP engineering for the studio theater, classrooms, lecture halls, and rehearsal spaces.

“The center creates not only dynamic new academic maker and performance spaces but lends a vibrant presence to downtown Columbus’s popular river walk.” – Donald Runnicles

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After the successful launch of their pilot line to produce batteries, this battery manufacturer selected the partnership of Turner Construction and SSOE Group to design and construct their new greenfield production battery campus. Spanning 1.25 million SF on a 125-acre site in the Southwest U.S., the campus will feature a two-story battery production facility, administrative and engineering offices, a cathode production building, lithium processing and storage buildings, and a hazardous scrap storage facility.

The SSOE team brings a full spectrum of architectural and engineering expertise to this multi-phased project, guiding the project from the foundational Basis of Design to the final Issue for Construction packages. The project employs a Construction Management at Risk delivery method, chosen for its ability to ensure timely and budget-conscious project completion while maintaining cost certainty and quality control.

Navigating through the complexities of site evaluation, seismic zoning adaptations, utility access, and hazardous chemical planning, SSOE’s multidisciplinary team has adeptly addressed and overcome each obstacle to ensure this complex project continues to progress toward completion.

At the forefront of battery technology, this manufacturer is working to scale these batteries industrially and commercially. The development of the batteries promises lighter, more efficient, and cost-effective solutions for electric vehicles and other applications that require high-energy density storage—and potentially revolutionizing the industry.

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During the development of plans for a new brownfield manufacturing facility, Ascend Elements engaged SSOE to provide engineering and design services. The focus was on renovating an existing 150,000 SF industrial building, which they had leased and equipped for recycling lithium ion batteries. The project unfolded through several key phases: front-end loading (FEL 2 and 3), detailed design, procurement, construction, and commissioning.

As a start-up, Ascend Elements faced the challenge of designing each production line component to achieve their ultimate goal: producing “black mass.” This valuable powder contains critical materials like nickel, cobalt, lithium, and graphite. SSOE played a pivotal role in refining Ascend Elements’ patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ process, which drastically reduces the carbon footprint of new battery cathode materials by up to 90%. The process involves discharging scrap batteries fully, crushing battery cases, and providing efficient dust collection. The recycling plant achieves an impressive 98% recovery rate for critical battery metals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and gigafactory manufacturing scrap. By contributing to a closed-loop battery materials supply chain, Ascend Elements supports a cleaner and more sustainable EV industry.

Beyond the initial ribbon-cutting and production start-up, Ascend Elements continued to leverage SSOE’s expertise. Together, we optimized and debottlenecked their cutting-edge process, implementing new unit operations within the production factory. SSOE’s understanding of day-today manufacturing criticality facilitated seamless integration of process improvements.

Today, SSOE remains a trusted project delivery partner for Ascend Elements. Our collaboration extends to designing a state-of-the-art, first-of-its-kind EV battery materials manufacturing facility in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Situated on a sprawling 140-acre megasite, this complex includes over 800,000 SF of manufacturing space, reinforcing Ascend Elements’ commitment to innovation and sustainability.

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SSOE was selected by Continental AG to perform engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services for their new 215,000 SF state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in New Braunfels, Texas. The plant manufactures products for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that will help with assisted and automated driving. With ADAS in high demand by car manufacturers, this new facility positions Continental to expand its U.S. research and development footprint and manufacturing capabilities.

The new, future-oriented greenfield campus includes a production facility, office space, warehouse, guard shack, technical building, and cafeteria. The project also included campus infrastructure, integral roads, parking, truck docks, and other site requirements. The innovative, edgy design of the facility integrates with its environmental surroundings and fits the needs of a modern-world production environment.

A high priority for Continental, the facility was designed as a model for energy efficiency and sought LEED® Silver certification upon completion. To help the client meet this goal, SSOE capitalized on our extensive LEED certification experience and our vast network of LEED Accredited Professionals to help formulate a design strategy that fulfilled the client’s sustainability needs and expectations. This included an energy-efficient building shape and innovative solutions in building technologies. The project ultimately received LEED® Gold certification.

SSOE has extensive knowledge of Continental’s specifications and project execution preferences and has delivered successful facilities to them for over a decade. Our recent experience working together on Continental’s “Greenfield Plant of the Future” in Central Mexico was instrumental in leveraging lessons learned to drive efficiency into the facility design.

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SSOE worked closely with Wayne State University to provide design services for the installation of a new 3T Magnetom Cima.X MRI scanner and associated support spaces within the Eugene Applebaum Building. An existing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) machine was relocated within the building to create space for the new MRI procedure room, control room, and equipment room. Support spaces included a patient changing room, toilet room, waiting area, and “mock” MRI space to help patients prepare for their procedure.

The project presented several unique challenges. While design was underway, the cutting-edge MRI equipment was still awaiting FDA approval in the United States. Partially funded by federal grant funds, the project required an aggressive design and construction schedule which did not allow for any delays. To ensure the final completion date, SSOE worked closely with the client, equipment vendors, and contractor to respond to changing equipment needs and identify and specify potential long-lead items.

In addition to the design challenges, an early structural analysis of the facility by SSOE showed the lower level to be the most suitable location for the new equipment. Because the construction access for the new MRI had to be through the existing below-grade exterior wall, the MRI was craned into the building from a main thoroughfare between the WSU facility and an adjacent hospital. Important to the success of the project, SSOE worked with the equipment manufacturer, shielding vendor, and contractor to help ensure a smooth process.

The project scope included new lighting, diffusers, millwork, and finishes, as well as incorporating the shielding and equipment requirements into the construction documents.

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SSOE is providing multi-disciplinary design services to the four Veteran Affairs (VA) medical centers in Michigan as part of an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The renovation of the second floor of Building 83 is one project from the IDIQ, on the VA Battle Creek campus.

This project focused on the renovation of 18,170 SF of space in the Nursing Home Care Unit (NHCU). The existing space contained large, multi-bed dorm rooms which were reconfigured to private bedrooms and bathrooms in compliance with current VA design criteria. A portion of the rooms were designed to accommodate bariatric residents and other specialized needs.

The entire interior of the second floor was demolished to provide a floor plan that would meet the current and future needs of the residents and staff. The secondary electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and medical gas systems were upgraded and replaced. All items were required to be coordinated with the previously renovated first floor plan and systems.

In addition to privacy, patient safety and security was critical to the success of this project. SSOE’s design services included nurse call systems, upgrades to the building fire alarm systems, wireless network design for improved coverage, IP security camera additions, and Network Video Recorder (NVR) storage expansion to provide adequate video storage.

The future residents of the facility and their care was the leading factor in the design. New nursing stations were created at the center of each patient care area to allow for better patient observation. Open dining and family rooms for visitors, a large dayroom for activities, and bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms are also examples of patient focused care. All of the finishes and space planning focused on eliminating the existing institutional feeling and providing for a welcoming and residential aesthetic.

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When a world-leading semiconductor manufacturer decided to build their largest-ever U.S. campus, they turned to SSOE as a trusted A&E partner to support making it a reality. The initial campus design and build-out includes two chip fabrication facilities (Fabs), a flagship office, entry building, parking, data centers, warehouses, chemical production and storage, and utility buildings. SSOE was invited to provide design support beginning with site planning, logistics, and enabling, continuing through full design and construction support.

SSOE has developed scope packages for select campus structures including:

  • 52,000 SF flagship entry building. Serving as the public gateway to the facility and the aesthetic and brand-affirming focus for the campus, this space will host client and vendor VIPs, customers, and visitors. Featuring specialized mass-timber construction, it includes an auditorium and an employee wellness amenity center.
  • 670,000 SF six-story high-rise office building. The nerve-center for the new campus, this building includes office spaces, labs, initial employee amenities, a café floor, campus operations and security centers, and a Fab cleanroom gowning space.
  • 2,900 vehicle multi-story parking deck with an integrated 109,000 SF office building. This garage includes EV charging spaces, storage for campus vehicles, and a pedestrian bridge to the main office building for convenience. Additional employee offices are located above the top deck of the structure.
  • Cleanroom-rated building link. Connecting the office structure with the factory floor, this structure allows employees to gown up and enter the cleanroom environment within the office building, and then move into the Fab while maximizing the square footage within the Fab for manufacturing activities.
  • 100,000 SF warehouse with automated storage system and specialized systems for receipt of semiconductor fabrication tools and equipment.
  • 15,000 SF independent data center to support the entire campus.

SSOE was also engaged to apply our modular and fabrication design expertise to executing specialty Lateral design with fabrication design services for both of the initial chip fabs.

A huge undertaking, really eight or nine large projects rolled into one program, our team has exceeded client expectations in terms of detail, thoroughness, and deliverables for every milestone. Our client partnership benefits from our steady contribution of creative design ideas to support not just the stated goals of this campus, but the client’s overall growth strategies.

The ongoing success of this project has resulted in SSOE being awarded design work for a sister facility.

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The SSOE Group architecture, interior, and engineering design teams worked closely with the Tuomey Hospital clinical and facilities staff to expand and renovate the emergency department in Sumter, South Carolina. The ED was originally constructed in the early 1990s. In addition to expanding the facility to accommodate a greater patient load, the existing space is modified to increase efficiency and reduce wait times. The project was designed and constructed in three phases, which allowed emergency services to remain fully operational throughout the construction process. Phase One included a 17,000 SF addition to establish a new walk-in entrance, security station, and patient / family waiting area.

A Rapid Medical Evaluation (RME) unit featuring six triage rooms, which provides immediate patient assessment. In addition, a 22-seat Results Lounge includes a comfortable space for patients and families to wait while diagnostic testing and lab work is being conducted. Patients requiring more acute care can be quickly transferred to one of the adjacent treatment rooms that encircle a central Team Center, where staff have visual observation of 18 new rooms. A new diagnostic imaging room within the ED provides convenience for all patients.

Phase Two includes 13,000 SF of renovations to enlarge existing treatment rooms, create a family waiting area, expansion of support services, and enhancements to staff amenities. Phase Three, to be completed in the future, is designed to enlarge all remaining original treatment spaces, and upgrade trauma bays, and the original nurse and physician work areas. In addition to the six RME Triage rooms, there are a total of 42 treatment rooms and bays.

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Since 2009, SSOE has documented savings of over $20.1 million on projects for this client.

When this consumer products client identified the need to increase production, they called on SSOE to lead the design, OEM coordination, and installation as part of an EPC project delivery solution. We were selected based on our pre-determined capabilities in safety, innovation, cost, and success on previous projects.

The plant required facility work to accommodate the new equipment, including overall design for layouts, facilities, mechanical, and electrical. Design services included 3D scanning of areas proposed for the new equipment to develop engineering packages to perform construction activities.

The major scope of this project consisted of process equipment installation and upgrades to the plant’s central material delivery system. Support services included new equipment foundations, electrical and control circuitry, and balance of plant mechanical services. The most challenging aspect of this project involved placing the equipment in an older section of the plant with limited ceiling clearance.

The client provided SSOE with older scans of the areas that were not up to current quality requirements. Instead of re-scanning these areas, SSOE was able to supplement the existing data with portable scanning at the site, which ultimately contributed to a detailed 3D design. This augmentation of additional higher quality scan data provided better insight to the team and contractors as we developed the vendor models. SSOE completed this scan augmentation with our own project personnel and portable scanner, which saved the project time, trouble, and money, versus hiring a third party to travel to the site, complete safety training, and re-scan the entire area.

SSOE’s construction-level coordination included pull-planning sessions with the owner and contractors, and use of the NavisWorks model on a daily basis. This highly detailed design also allowed SSOE to conduct specific coordination meetings with the following user groups that were not directly involved in the project to minimize rework after installation:

  • Operations – Locate accessories, verify forklift access, and locate operator stations and PLC locations.
  • EH&S – Verify exact location of LOTO points, review fall protection strategy, and design machine guarding.
  • Bridge Crane Manager – Bridge crane, including lift dimensions.

Central Materials – Review staging areas and lay out central product delivery equipment.

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NPA Coatings Inc. (NPAC), a manufacturer of chemical coating products, purchased a 45 acre re-purposed brownfield site from the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee to build a new facility to manufacture e-coat, acrylic resins, and paint for the automotive industry.

SSOE was selected to provide an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) delivery method using a technically-led open book approach. NPAC is fully integrated in all activity, design reviews, procurement, and construction while SSOE offers a single point of responsibility – consistent project leadership from FEL to commissioning. Construction planning began from the project start, which prevents delays in the process install due to site construction and early site / structure packages, while eliminating waste and hidden costs in design hand-off to procurement, fabrication, and installation. Because of the all-encompassing scope of this project, SSOE drew from its extensive bench of engineers and architects from our chemical, facilities, and construction management groups to form an experienced team to work closely with NPAC.

An EPC open book strategy gives SSOE full project responsibility from FEL to commissioning, using one contract between SSOE and NPAC to cover the entire project. SSOE will bid and award hundreds of pieces of equipment and construction contracts, while NPAC will be fully involved in the decision making process and review of all quotations. A target budget will be prepared following the FEL work with a recommended contingency agreed by both SSOE and NPAC, ultimately leading to a reduction of the budget to offset overall risk.

The design includes translation from international practices to U.S. standards, for full safety and environmental compliance, including support for VOC / HAP emissions estimates, building classification evaluation, and storage for chemical compatibility hazardous materials storage, possible flood plain siting issues, and building height constraints within a nearby FAA regulated flight path.

SSOE is performing substantial FEL design to address all major code and safety considerations and resolve multiple design variables to define and provide cost certainty to the facility scope and enable funding approval by the parent company board in Asia. Based on the strength of that design process, NPAC will be able to evaluate and include substantial process controls upgrades in the design basis which will substantially improve product consistency, product quality, and employee safety.

Related to the building envelope, in addition to architectural design, SSOE’s facilities team is providing civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering including fire protection services. NPAC hopes to achieve LEED status for the project and design is ongoing in accordance with pursuit of LEED certification.

Streamlining steel package delivery with BIM2Fab® Steel

To meet the aggressive project schedule, SSOE plans to leverage our BIM2Fab Steel services, an innovative application of virtual design technology that seamlessly integrates steel design and fabrication to deliver exceptional quality. BIM2Fab Steel offers multiple advantages, from minimized risk to reduced cost and schedule—in this case, compressing the schedule by at least 4 weeks and saving NPAC time, trouble, and money in the process. Our BIM2Fab Steel models save weeks on construction schedules and can be used for clash detection and coordination across trades, ensuring a cleaner, better delivered finished product.

In close collaboration with the client and steel fabricators, SSOE’s BIM2Fab Steel team can release fabrication-ready drawings just days, as opposed to weeks, after design documents are released. SSOE will supply detail and erection sheets as well as CNC files for automated fabrication machines, further cutting down the time required to deliver structural members to the field.

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The client, a silicon wafer and digital memory manufacturer, hired SSOE to provide detailed design for a new bulk silane system at their facility in Idaho. The proposed area for the system was constrained by existing campus structures, and required careful planning for both the finished design and the construction phases to ensure constructability. The project faced two major challenges from the beginning:

  • Silane storage was on the opposite side of a road from the use area, requiring an over-road trestle system to safely deliver the hazardous material.
  • Final equipment selection would not be made until week six of the project, posing an immediate delay to traditional design approaches.

Over-Road Trestle Solution
Silane gas is a flammable and pyrophoric gas that requires special storage and handling. It is also the source of silicon for high tech manufacturing processes. In addition to designing the storage, containment, and mitigation measures for the Silane storage, SSOE’s team designed a robust trestle system that would safely move the gas from the point of storage to the point of use over a public roadway running through the client’s site.

Flexible Scheduling
In a typical project, civil and architectural disciplines lead by establishing the preliminary building shell, with mechanical, electrical, and process design following. Structural is involved at every stage, but performs the bulk of their work after the mechanical and process mechanical systems are in place, and the structural and seismic support needs of the equipment is better understood. For this project, SSOE delayed the civil, structural, and architectural work related to the shell to focus on mechanical and process designs, like for the silane distribution loops, which would not be majorly impacted by the final equipment selection. Once the crucial selections were made, SSOE was prepared to continue with the remainder of the design, and there was no wasted time in the client’s project schedule.

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Bon Secours Mercy Health’s St. Vincent Medical Center, a Level I Trauma Center and Level III NICU, selected SSOE to develop a study to document the renovation and refreshing of the Birthing Center. Responding to local needs, St. Vincent’s advanced a portion of the overall plans to transform three existing antepartum rooms into two Labor, Delivery, and Recovery Rooms to meet the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) standards while enhancing the patient experience.

New windows provide ample light into the spacious and accessible rooms that create well-defined zones for the mother, baby, family, and clinical staff. The refreshed area creates a warm and welcoming environment.

Due to the accelerated nature of the project, SSOE worked in an integrated manner with clinical and facilities staff, along with the selected contractor, to complete the project within an aggressive schedule. The Birthing Center remained in full operation while renovation progressed on the Labor, Delivery, and Recovery Rooms which were located at the hub of the surgical suite, LDRP rooms, and nursing station.

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Working in close collaboration with a long-time client, SSOE transformed the third floor of the Marathon building, known as The Hub, into a modern dining experience and more. This central gathering spot is not just for eating, but also for meetings, attending events, and even working quietly alone in a warm and inviting environment. The variety of settings within the Hub support all of these ways of working and gathering.

The removal of the outdated kitchen and serving line allowed the reorganization of the space to create a modern and open chef-driven cooking arena with fresh food being prepared in front of employees. These opportunities for choice, as well as a visual connection to the cooking, promote positive interaction with space and colleagues. The Hearth, a 7,000-pound Italian pizza oven, encased in copper, centers the serving area and the hospitality feel of the overall space.

The project faced several challenges, one of which was the need to maintain operation while construction took place, catering to a campus with 2,800 employees. The team created 3D models to help the client visualize the space, worked closely with the kitchen crew to map out their steps for efficiency, and collaborated with the kitchen equipment consultant to ensure the space functioned well for the kitchen team. The open kitchen layout provides flexibility for future menu changes and the ability to use less staff with visual monitoring available across the space.

The new café boasts several unique architectural features and a mix of materials that create a balance between enclosed and open spaces, offering exterior views from nearly every angle, while still maintaining a cozy atmosphere.

Located at the center of campus, artist-created signage that complements the interiors provides clear wayfinding to all connecting buildings. Inspired by Marathon’s roots as a refining and transportation company, as well as the Art Deco style of the campus buildings, the Hub speaks in reverence to the past, but also the active future. The

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A major supplier of semiconductor manufacturing tools wanted to expand their research and development facilities, but had extremely limited available space on their existing campus. With existing structures, adjacent bay lands, and a challenging soil composition, SSOE engineered a phased delivery of a vertical solution that accommodated all constraints.

Sandy Soil Mitigation
The combination of sandy soil and a seismically sensitive area made structural engineering for a vertically stacked building very challenging. The traditional approach to piles and platforms would have suffered from settling and vibration issues almost immediately. Instead, SSOE’s team developed an approach using micro piles and platforms. By using smaller and more numerous piles and platforms we were able to distribute the building loads more uniformly and protect against both seismic shifts and settling.

Design Precision and Specification Development
The existing production could not be shut down during construction, which required timely and precise tie-in locations via hot-taps on many of the wet systems, and closely coordinated tie-ins for air-side during short shutdown windows. The vertical nature of the utility areas required precise routing and coordination through existing yard. As a result of this need for precision, SSOE developed highly accurate project standards and specifications for the client.

Phased Execution
Existing structures in the project space required repeated demolition-construction cycles. This required SSOE to work closely with the General Contractor (GC) to develop a complex project phasing. SSOE developed modeling baselines and a BIM environment in order to manage and coordinate between trades, the GC, and the design team. The result allowed construction partners to seamlessly integrate each new building segment with the one before, while keeping the project on time and within budget.

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SSOE was selected by a leading semiconductor manufacturer to scope and design a new flagship high-rise office and research facility at one of their campuses. The project included the design of state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) laboratory spaces to develop new technologies.

At 19,850 SF, the labs are overall not clean spaces, though they will house select semiconductor manufacturing tools. The spaces needed to meet material delivery, vibration, and interference requirements similar to a Fab; attention to detail was paramount. A vibration subconsultant was engaged to ensure the designed structure would meet the exacting standards necessary for semiconductor design. Likewise, electromagnetic interference (EMI) was a critical consideration, dictating the strategic placement of the lab within the building to protect the equipment from WiFi or other EMI sources located in other areas. Telecom restrictions also played a significant role, with careful planning and material selection to provide needed connectivity without compromising sensitive equipment.

To meet ongoing needs, the client wanted a space that could be reconfigured with new tools as needed. SSOE delivered a design with access, structure, and move in / move out pads needed for easy movement of tools and equipment. This adaptability is further enhanced by the management of liquids and gases, including equipment feeds equipped with monitored drip trays and bottle-fed gas systems fed from the main Fab laterals.

The project’s Design-Build approach leveraged early collaboration between the design team and the contractor. Combined with comprehensive project communication processes, this partnership ensured efficiency and constructability across project changes.

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Looking to maximize utilized space on an already crowded campus, a major semiconductor manufacturer asked SSOE to design a new fab on a plot originally planned as a loading dock. SSOE designed the 150,000 SF facility to support 50,000 SF of cleanroom manufacturing space with minimum impact to adjacent fabs during construction and operation.

This project presented several challenges which were resolved with creative design solutions:

Flexibility for Next-Gen Fab Equipment
The client requested maximum flexibility to support current and next-generation chip manufacturing tools. This impacted the structural and vibration design of the building, as well as, the routing of process material and waste removal feeds within the structure to support flexible tool layouts from day one.

No Support Buildings
The team was asked to maximize production space and find alternatives to using dedicated support buildings, like a Central Utility Building (CUB) or bulk gas yard. The client and design team collaborated on a utility gap analysis to determine capacity shortfalls. Upgrades were made to existing systems that were required to support the new manufacturing space. As a result, the team designed and implemented basebuild-style upgrades to several systems on adjacent fab infrastructure to support the new fab.

Meeting Egress Code Requirements
With barely the minimum seismic gap between the new fab and existing structures, difficulties in meeting code requirements for egress routing became a constraint for the project. A deep knowledge of the applicable regulations, combined with strong AHJ coordination, allowed SSOE to develop and implement a safe and code-compliant solution.

Utility and Waste Routing
In addition to feeding the new fab from upgraded, existing utilities serving an adjacent fab, some utilities needed under-slab routing, which required a custom sleeve to accommodate differential settlement between the two facility foundations. Likewise, process waste was routed through the subfab area of an adjacent building to reach existing tie-ins capable of supporting the flows to existing collection points for on-site treatment and off-site removal of waste streams.

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Integrated design of complex liquid and gas delivery systems broken into manageable pieces for repeatable off-site manufacturing and expedited design and construction.

Getting liquid and gas materials to and from semiconductor manufacturing tools is essential, and it involves a large amount of piping. SSOE is a go-to designer of subfab laterals for a leading semiconductor
manufacturer, and for good reason. When we were asked to provide lateral piping designs for twin semiconductor fabs, one in the Southwest U.S. and the other overseas on a tight timeline, we knew we had to change how we did things. On a typical project, SSOE would provide design documents which are transferred to a fabricator to develop the spool drawings for manufacturing. For these facilities, we modeled the piping to a fabrication-level of detail, and provided the fabrication drawings.

By embedding these details into the design, we put constructability at the forefront of the project and eliminated a series of RFI back-and-forth, thus providing the client with great savings to budget and schedule. We also delivered innovative time and cost savings by designing the pipe support racks and piping to be built off-site, transported to the site, and installed in large modular sections. And, in order to facilitate inventory tracking and installation of these units between off-site manufacturing and on-site installation, we developed an asset tracking system that is integrated within our design models. Using barcodes on each spool, we were able to track whether a particular module was in fabrication, storage, or already installed with up-to-the-minute accuracy.

We further multiplied the savings created by applying our industry and client-specific knowledge to identify “building block” modules which can be assembled in various configurations. By using these building blocks, our lateral designs could be adapted for new site locations with minimal adjustments, allowing us to effectively perform detailed design work for two facilities in parallel. And for projects where off-site manufacturing was feasible, like this one, we improved construction efficiency and safety by limiting on-site materials and minimizing the manpower and logistics needed to install the lateral racks and piping.

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SSOE was contracted by a major semiconductor manufacturer to design a 1,425,000 SF greenfield fabrication facility (Fab). The Fab would be a new addition to the client’s existing campus. Having recently completed the campus-wide master planning, SSOE was well-positioned to resolve the challenges posed during the Conceptual Design phase, including:

  • Greenfield “ground-up” Fab design planning for a 341,000 SF building with five levels.
  • Routing site utilities through, around, or over an existing Fab without disrupting production or causing excessive vibration.
  • Client requirements to keep the Fab level of the new facility at the same elevation as the Fab levels of neighboring existing buildings, complicated by grade changes in the site, and limitations from an adjacent wetland.
  • Vehicle access to the new Fab had to be strategically routed around existing structures and wetlands.
  • Full Fab development including: sub-utility levels, utility level, Subfab and laterals, 264,450 SF cleanroom manufacturing space, gowning, storage, and connections with adjacent structures.
  • Expansion planning for future chemical utility and process utility buildings.
  • Detailed analysis for utility requirements to ensure both expanded and new systems would support the intended use for the new Fab.

SSOE provided project leadership, cleanroom, and Subfab expertise while guiding a subconsultant firm through the overall facility design. This Conceptual Design phase was completed within the proposed 12-week time frame, and rolled seamlessly into the Detailed Design phase.

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SSOE saved the client a total of $791,000 by challenging both the design and construction criteria. Our electrical approach changed the feed from the substation, the grounding at each column, and the emergency lighting source. Structurally, we saved substantial construction costs by enlarging the slab pours to minimize the slab joints.

Guardian Industries partnered with SSOE to provide engineering services for an expansion at their Carleton, Michigan facility to accommodate a large float glass coating line. The expansion was located on a land parcel adjacent to the existing facility. SSOE provided engineering services for each of the two planned project phases.

The first phase included the relocation of an existing drainage system that served the township. The drainage system relocation required significant coordination with the local drainage commission and hearings held with the owners of the adjacent agricultural and residential properties. In addition to the relocation of the drainage system, the property’s wetlands had to be mitigated with the Army Corp of Engineers. Together, we determined the most efficient means to remove the wetlands from the client’s property was to purchase credits. After a series of meetings and discussions, the
plan was approved.

The second phase of the project was the design and construction of a 260,000 SF facility on the new property. The team sought to minimize earthwork for the new expansion, as the elevation change between the new and existing plant was significant. The elevation change required coordination with the process engineers to ensure the grade was acceptable for the transport of large sheets of float glass from the glass line located in the existing plant to the coating line located in the expansion. Design coordination was completed using 3D models between the pre-engineered building manufacturer, the coating equipment, and the facility design.

This design-build, fast-track expansion project was constructed and ready for installation of the process systems within approximately 12 months.

 

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When Toledo law firm Eastman & Smith needed to lease new office space, they began reevaluating their growing needs while trying to stay connected to their existing roots in downtown. The firm opted to remain in One Seagate and move to the 27th floor of the facility, and they sought SSOE to design their new 22,400 SF space. In order to make this space work, our team of architects and interior designers were able to create an office that reflected the firm’s brand and mission while focusing on providing welcoming spaces for clients and employees.

In their previous space, Eastman & Smith’s office denoted an obvious hierarchy in terms of office size and location. In the new space, the firm wanted a neutral and level playing field, as well as a more collaborative environment. In the new design, the offices are all the same size and are outfitted with the same fixtures. There are no corner offices in the new design, and instead the four corners are spaces that can be utilized by any employee.

To accommodate diverse work needs, the space also features flex offices that allow for a hybrid experience, and large and small meeting rooms. Technology was upgraded throughout the suite to provide team meeting spaces and electronic sign-outs for a variety of spaces.

The renovated space includes employee-focused and collaborative areas: a café with views of the Maumee River, spaces for collaboration and team-bonding, and a wellness room. The wellness room is a private area built for one person to have quiet space. There is a separate mothers room.

Our interior designers worked with the furniture vendor to incorporate prefabricated modular walls for the offices. We selected the furniture and finishes for the built environment. In addition to the aesthetic and functional elements, SSOE provided structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, along with Data / Fire / Security services.

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Chemence purchased a 28,000 SF office building and engaged SSOE to renovate the building in two phases, combining the Research and Development teams for both companies. SSOE provided interior design and engineering services for multiple floors, facilitating an interactive envisioning session for leadership, defined inspiration imagery, space standards, and FF&E selections. In a second renovation phase, Chemence desired to continue the renovation on the lower floor, which included the lobby, restrooms, and office suites focusing on collaboration, flexible areas, and cohesive branding throughout.

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SSOE was selected by a semiconductor manufacturer to generate specifications and design for a new Acid Waste Neutralization (AWN) system that would allow the client to reclaim and reuse materials that would otherwise be classified as hazardous waste. The client in particular relied on SSOE to provide a sophisticated understanding of semiconductor manufacturing processes, and acid waste neutralization systems to identify the technical requirements for the AWN, meet the client’s goals for recycle, and determine the ways it would fit into the existing material flows within the facility.

Defining the Problem
SSOE mapped the existing material flows and generated a sampling plan to collect water quality data from the system as it currently exists. Samples were taken from the RODI feed water, Gray Water / DI reclaim, RODI effluent, ROR tank effluent, FAC / EDI / CDO scrubber blowdown, cooling tower blowdown, HFW effluent, Fab effluent, AWN effluent to the wastewater treatment plant, and BGW effluent to the AWN. The test results indicated what specific mitigation strategies would be needed (e.g., addition of water softener, advanced filtration and RO) and at what points.

Articulating Solutions
Based on how SSOE articulated the results of the sample study, the client was confident in moving forward with vendor selection and constructability evaluation. SSOE managed this vendor selection on the client’s
behalf, at the client’s request. The sample study were used to provide vendors with equipment performance specifications and solicit bids. Results from the top three bids were then brought to a construction partner
for early-project cost estimating and implementation / constructability review. The client was empowered to make a quick and confident decision based on a clear understanding of each option, including performance, cost to install and operate, and other trade-offs.

Implementation Support
Next steps for this project include programming and detailed design for the selected AWN solution, equipment, and installation support.

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Two-Level Elementary School

 Mountain View Elementary School is a 144,000-square foot two-level facility that is replacing the district’s existing elementary school.

Upgraded Instructional Units

The elementary school expanded to 63 instructional units, 53 of those for Kindergarten through 5th grade classrooms. Other instructional units include a cafeteria and kitchen, gymnasium, media center, two computer labs, two art labs, and two music labs.

16-Acre Site

The replacement school is nestled on a 16-acre site which includes parking for 155 cars, a separate queuing area for buses and car pick-up, a playfield with track, two playgrounds, and two play courts.

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Transforming Marathon Petroleum Corporation’s Marketing Building: For four decades SSOE has partnered with Marathon Petroleum Corporation. Together we have reimagined the work environment and provided forward thinking design and engineering solutions that will empower and impact the building and people alike. Our collaboration on the Market Building Workplace Renovation project exemplifies our ongoing partnership and shared commitment to design excellence.

Enhancing Workplace Strategies. The renovation project celebrates a dynamic and inspiring workspace, catering to both existing and potential team members. Designed as an ecosystem to foster connection, teamwork, and social engagement, the Marketing Building leverages the structure’s unique industrial characteristics. Feature elements of the overall design transformation include the integration of natural light, versatile communal spaces conducive to collaboration, visible engineering elements, carefully chosen furnishings, a selection of finishes and materials, and sleek linear lighting fixtures. The refreshed workspace offers its team members a refined, and forward-thinking work environment for both digital and in-person connections.

New Hub of Collaboration. A new connecting stair has been thoughtfully positioned just below the newly installed skylight, providing employees with access to natural light while fostering distinct neighborhoods within the workspaces. This stair serves as a main connection point between two work floors, offering opportunities for social engagement and gatherings. Adjacent to the staircase are communal zones that have been designed to serve as a vibrant nexus for employee interaction, technological engagement, and dynamic work styles. Throughout each level, versatile, multi-use areas cater to a diverse range of activities, from solitary work to large group gatherings. The project space embodies a modern, energetic, and authentically surprising aesthetic empowering team members.

Thoughtful and Energized Environment. SSOE and Marathon Petroleum Corporation together made a commitment to be environmentally conscious while leveraging the pre-existing building framework, systems, and furnishings, to install a state-of-the-art size-pipe HVAC system. To amplify natural lighting in the workspaces, we incorporated a substantial 15-foot square skylight that extends through the roof and third floor. This infusion of sunlight not only establishes a central hub for collaborative zones but also ensures equitable access to daylight for all employees throughout the workday.

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Ascend Elements, a leading provider of sustainable battery material solutions, began construction on its new EV battery recycling and engineered materials manufacturing facility. Known as Apex 1, this 140-acre campus in Hopkinsville will produce sustainable EV battery precursor (pCAM) and battery-ready cathode active materials (CAM) for up to 250,000 EVs annually.

SSOE initially conducted site and utility evaluations for Ascend Elements’ new flagship facility. SSOE supported the evaluation of potential sites for the new campus and provided a comprehensive evaluation that aided the client in selecting a site. During Front End Loading (FEL), SSOE developed a site layout to include process, packaging, warehousing, office buildings, a preliminary project schedule, and an execution plan. Our comprehensive team for this phase included architectural, civil, structural, process, mechanical (HVAC / plumbing), piping, electrical, instrumentation and controls, and estimating.

Throughout the design phase, SSOE worked with Ascend Elements and their process technology provider to create an efficient overall process design while exploring engineering alternatives to enhance project value. With Ascend Elements’ foreign OEM / technology provider, SSOE conducted evaluations of equipment and design specifications to ensure compliance with all U.S. codes and standards. This involved regular meetings and continuous BIM / CAD coordination.

SSOE collaborated with the Turner Construction Company / Kokosing Industrial joint venture to create the detailed design for this groundbreaking facility. Based on a design / build contract arrangement, the project benefited Ascend Elements by optimizing contractor-assisted design and Lean deliverables tailored precisely to the contractor’s requirements. This accelerated megasite project engaged 13 firms and more than 250 users across multiple countries. 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.

This further enhanced the project’s success by streamlining information sharing across all parties, earning SSOE the Autodesk Design & Make AEC Best Construction Project Award in 2023. As a new player in the battery market, Ascend Elements trusted SSOE because of our established resources to deliver a project of this sheer magnitude, solidified by our agility in adapting to project execution throughout a dynamic, fast-track schedule.

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SSOE was recently selected to provide full planning, design, and construction administration services for a greenfield solar wafer manufacturing facility.

Having completed FEL 1 and 2 of this project, SSOE provided site readiness requirements and recommendations, Basis of Design, conceptual facility designs and plans, basic cost estimating, and a preliminary design schedule. Throughout FEL 1, SSOE performed value engineering evaluations in which the client approved design solutions totaling approximately $400 million in project savings.

The facility design includes a main process area, wastewater treatment, raw and finished goods warehouses, elevated operating floors, administrative, and office spaces. The scope of the project includes facility layout (civil, structural, architectural), water supply distribution, HVAC, electrical supply and distribution, emergency safety systems, fire protection design, and waste and hazardous material management. In addition to adhering to client standards and code compliance, SSOE is also delivering a sustainable building design.

According to a recent Client Satisfaction Survey, the client noted “They [SSOE] are always looking for the best solution that fits within the budget, of me being the customer. They are constantly offering, I’ll say, brainstormed ideas, or various ideas of how to solve the problem in the most effective way to satisfy the customer.”

Although this is currently a confidential client and project, the client gave SSOE a 10 out of 10 on the survey when answering “how likely they would be to recommend SSOE to a colleague.”

To date, SSOE value engineered project solutions totaling $400 million in savings.

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SSOE was selected to act as the Owner’s Representative for this long-time food client on an important tomato sorting and processing project. Working closely with EC Nelson, the project’s Design-Build mechanical contractor, along with the electrical and integration contractors, SSOE provided design quality assurance and managed all aspects of the project on behalf of the client. The project was completed on schedule, in time for the seasonal arrival of tomatoes. The new electronic system sorts unpeeled tomatoes by quality and color, sending a larger percentage of high-quality tomatoes to the process lines making high-end diced tomato products, while directing the lesser-quality tomatoes to the evaporators to be made into tomato paste. The new process handles 280 tons of tomatoes per hour.

As the Owner’s Representative, we managed a multitude of moving pieces (designer, contractor, equipment manufacturers, purchasing team, project controls team) that needed to align at just the right times for successful project execution. SSOE also managed the master schedule, which included the engineering packages release timing, equipment ordering, the completion of programming, equipment testing, safety checks, and performance validations. Project team meetings were held weekly along with multiple meetings throughout the week to make sure project milestones were on track, and project status reports were delivered directly to the client’s upper management team. Additionally, we worked closely with Procurement to develop and process requisitions for purchase orders to support construction tasks as needed, while handling all administrative project-related tasks.

Key to the success of this project was our ability to be adaptable as we faced project challenges outside our control. Adjustments made included compressing the schedule when needed and sometimes having crews on-site around the clock. We utilized a combination of our Owner’s Representative and added an additional SSOE resource to shoulder the on-site night shift Construction Manager role, which ultimately reduced the schedule by a week and a half.

In March 2020, restrictions were implemented due to the world-wide Covid-19 pandemic, adding unforeseen project complications. At this time, we were tasked with providing a safe, Covid-free working environment, monitoring the ability of the client-ordered European equipment to be delivered to the U.S., and developing a solution to get key project staff located around the U.S. to the client’s site when needed. Solutions included the development of on-site safety protocols, which included mask wearing, taking temperatures, and completing health questionnaires. Most importantly, the client dedicated a several company jets to move critical resources to and from the site, including the Owner’s Representative and other key personnel. This helped ensure the project was completed in time for the July 1st arrival of tomatoes from the local farmers.

To meet the client’s deadline while completing the project safely, the roof was installed at nighttime during off-shift hours. SSOE’s on-site Owner’s Representative pulled double shifts until another SSOE resource could be brought on-site. This allowed the project to complete on time, saving the client $3,198,000.00 in production cost if all work had been limited to one shift.

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Marking a key development in their North American expansion, YKK AP American Inc. selected SSOE to design the company’s new manufacturing facility in Macon, Georgia. The 400,000 SF space marries SSOE’s industrial and architectural expertise on a greenfield site to a new client.

As the North American arm of the global YKK AP group of companies, YKK AP America needed a space in the U.S. to produce residential vinyl windows, bringing extrusion, production, fabrication, glass, and lamination together under one roof. SSOE partnered with JE Dunn Construction Group to bring the facility to life. Serving as a model for future North American manufacturing facilities, the $125 million plant signifies a recommitment to the community of Macon that has supported YKK AP’s residential business since it was first established in the United States.

Investments in automation were made to improve production capacity, product consistency, and employee safety. Additionally, the facility is scalable to accommodate additional automation, increased capacity, and future business and product expansion strategies.

The new manufacturing facility was built to enhance the day-to-day employee experience. Approximately 12,000 SF of office space features natural lighting including tubular skylights to help draw natural light to the back of the office. The main conference room features a tapestry piece showcasing the client’s residential windows. Outdoors, the plant also has a walking trail and a flexible court that can be used for basketball or pickleball. There are spaces outside the breakroom for exterior dining that can also serve as an event space.

When the project began, the client did not know how much office space was required. Through value engineering, SSOE was able to provide the client $9.2 million in Value Promise. The team was able to right-size the office space from 30,000 SF to 12,400 SF yielding $4,300,000 in construction cost savings, $100,000 in office design cost savings, and approximately $241,155 in annual operating cost savings over a 20-year period.

Right-sizing the office space for the client’s needs yielded $9.2 million in project savings.

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Due to a recent acquisition, this client is closing a plant in the South and moving its three different product lines to separate existing plants. Because of SSOE’s successful execution of a recent network optimization project, we were asked to assist the client in moving one of the three lines affected by this complex plant consolidation. Using the same team that worked on the previous plant relocation project, we capitalized on their knowledge of the client’s equipment and installation specs and standards, utilizing many design details from the recently completed project.

Well into the design of the original project, the client changed course due to the extreme product demand caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. They gave us three days to collaborate with vendors to develop a cost estimate to purchase and install all new process and packaging equipment for the destination plant and completely re-engineer the two production lines. Without hesitation, SSOE shifted direction to help this long-time client achieve their business and market needs. The pandemic also required us to change the way we worked together: we moved from face to face communication to virtual communication and utilized large venues for major client review meetings to achieve social distancing requirements.

To properly manage a project of this size and scope, SSOE utilized a Project Manager / Design Manager approach, both of whom have worked with this client for many years: the Project Manager is the Packaging Subject Matter Expert who acted as the Owner’s Representative and handled client interface and overall project cost and schedule management; the Design Manager is the Process Lead and discipline coordinator.

The project is on schedule to have new lines running at the new facility in August 2021, only three months after the original scope’s due date. SSOE’s services for the project include structural, architectural, civil, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, process, controls, packaging, fire protection, lighting, wastewater treatment, overall project scheduling, on-site construction management, and project management.

SSOE recorded over $1.35 million in project savings through implementation of multiple value engineering opportunities and identification of sales tax credits.

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In response to surging product demand, our food client sought to expand their existing mixing capacity by adding two additional mixers to their mix tower. SSOE worked with the client to analyze ingredient supply capacity and address any deficiencies in the process.

The overall goal was to ensure enough finished mix could get to the 50-pound filling lines. Our team performed an initial mass balance with the plant on three major dry ingredients, and based on our evaluation, it was evident that four additional exterior bulk silos were required to accommodate the three ingredients.

Simultaneously, SSOE identified an immediate need for two interior use bins to fully utilize the existing mixers. With the integration of the new mixers, eight additional use bins were deemed essential. These bins would play a pivotal role in maintaining uninterrupted ingredient flow to the process.

Three pneumatic delivery lines were also engineered, with inline sifters on two of them for the delivery of products from the exterior silos to the interior use bins.

SSOE’s design also included the replacement of one existing air dryer with two new higher capacity units to supply dry air for ingredient transport and use bin head space blanketing.

An existing truck unload silo delivery system was replaced and upgraded to supply both existing and new bulk silos. A second truck unload station was added to the existing system to handle the additional capacity.

The successful implementation of the mix tower ingredient capacity increase not only met the immediate production demand, but has also positioned the client for future growth.

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When a food client needed to upgrade its antiquated filling and packaging equipment, they turned to SSOE for assistance. Prior to replacing 13 packaging lines and associated equipment, SSOE worked with the client to create a pilot line to test the capabilities of the new equipment and gain confidence that they could operate the new equipment effectively.

The pilot line ran for about a year, during which time our team helped the client work through any operational issues that arose. Based on what we learned during test runs, we adjusted the design and execution plan regarding how to move forward with the overall layout of the lines and equipment. The project then evolved into a multi-year plan to upgrade the company’s retail filling and packaging equipment and product supply conveyors.

There were three phases to the project and each phase had multiple steps within it. After the pilot line was installed, as phase one, phase two included the installation of a casepacker, case conveyors, and a new palletizer. The final phase, which took about two years, involved the installation of new fillers and cartoners.

SSOE developed a final layout, and then designed 3D models for each phase of the project. The layouts included the support of platforms and equipment from the roof, where possible, to minimize support legs from the floor.

Detail modeling was performed to locate equipment horizontally between the roof joists to allow product supply conveyors to run between, and not clash, with the joist members. The final design included five separate multi-filler cells.

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SSOE was selected to design a new, state-of-the-art training center for the Electric Vehicle (EV) market. The center, a collaboration between Hyundai Motor Group (Hyundai), The Technical College System of Georgia (TSCG), and Georgia Quick Start, is located adjacent to the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) facility and is poised to train the next generation of EV experts and innovators. Helping to solidify Georgia’s position as a national leader in EV manufacturing, the facility will support Hyundai’s first dedicated Electric Vehicle mass-production plant in the U.S. and promote Hyundai’s vision of becoming a global smart mobility solution provider.

Quick Start, a division of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) is Georgia’s internationally acclaimed workforce training program. SSOE and its partners designed the innovative 90,000 SF training center to further Quick Start’s mission by providing spaces that are highly functional, adaptable, and supportive of a dynamic organization, built on 50 years of experience, with a nurturing team-oriented culture.

The training center will feature technologies such as CAD, BIM, and virtual reality as well as classrooms, technical labs, and high-bay spaces. The space will contain manufacturing-scale training simulations incorporating robotics, mechatronics, welding, motors, and other advanced manufacturing technologies to simulate the EV production environment and prepare the trainees for success.

SSOE applied its expertise and experience in the EV market to deliver a cost-effective, high-quality solution for the client. The building is anchored by respecting the site’s geometry and the HMGMA factory context. Transitioning between the landscape architecture and the building are two courtyards of two distinct characters. The north courtyard serves as the main entrance to the facility and is active, welcoming, and dynamic, with trellis and colonnades as contemporary interpretations of the Southeast Georgia coastal vernacular. The south courtyard is intended to provide a quieter area of respite where staff and trainees can recharge and prepare for the day’s assignments.

Project completion is slated for late 2025 and will support the creation of more than 8,000 jobs in the EV industry.

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A long-time consumer products client turned to SSOE to replicate a previous automatization project to provide design for a new conveying system into a robotic program. Before Covid, the client struggled to find reliable resources to offload empty laundry detergent bottles. Over time, staffing became more challenging as the client was forced to staff the line with management personnel to meet order requirements. This situation was similar to what had occurred at another plant where SSOE was hired to design an automated system for the depalletization of reshippers from the ATU.

The original process included truck delivery empty bottle pallets, which were then manually unpacked by human operators. Operators offloaded layers of empty bottle cases onto a conveyor where the cases were then moved to the filling lines.

Once Covid hit, the client lost nearly all ability to offload the empty bottles. As a solution, SSOE provided the design to install a robot to load the layers of empty bottle cases onto a conveyor. From there, another robot would remove the tie sheet layer and place those into a bin, repeating the process layer after layer.

SSOE provided mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering to tie in the new conveying system. We designed the overhead conveyor supports, a new spiral conveyor, and foundation modifications. Although we were duplicating a similar project, SSOE faced a challenge in working at a different location. During the first project, our team was on-site within minutes to confirm measurements and talk to operators. For this project, we relied on information gathered from fewer site visits and scans to accurately predict measurements. After installing the robots, our client could reduce its workforce from eight operators to five. Since we copied some of the design from the first project, and we had prior knowledge of the equipment and vendors, SSOE was able to provide the client with a reduced estimate for the project’s design saving them about 20%.

SSOE was able to provide the client with a reduced design estimate saving $242,400.

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SSOE worked closely with a long-time consumer products client to install safety guarding around liquid laundry detergent packing equipment to improve safety. The Scope of Work started with the installation of safety guarding around a Unit Load Former (ULF) hoist area, as well as improvement to the safety guarding around the nearby stretch wrapper. We were asked to design a door / gate that would open and close instantly as well as shut down the stretch wrapper immediately, if the door / gate boundary was crossed, eliminating the opportunity for injury.

SSOE evaluated multiple options and discovered a market-ready roll-up safety door that exceeded the client’s requested Category 3 safety rating. This market-ready overhead door eliminated access to the stretch wrapper while it is spinning and also required less custom design by the SSOE team and custom fabrication, saving the client time, trouble, and money. Our client was pleased with this innovative solution which exceeded the request, the automation of the new door, and the safety it provided. As a result, they requested and received additional funding to provide the same safety solution for 11 additional lines.

Due to travel restrictions implemented from the Covid-19 pandemic, the client allowed our team to laser scan the areas affected by this project. SSOE’s design team then referred to this data, stored in Cintoo, for the needed measurements throughout the design process, eliminating the need for engineers’ site visits. The use of Cintoo also allowed us to share the scan information with our design partners and allowed us to input both our model and their model into the program. It identified clashes and ensured the equipment fit in the space properly, saving the client potential equipment re-work during installation. Our familiarity with this client’s plant, people, and processes combined with our design expertise and innovative thinking led to a successful acquisition of similar project work at an additional client facility.

By utilizing a market-ready solution, reducing custom design and fabrication needed, and implementing this solution on 11 additional lines, $210,000 in Value Promise savings was realized.

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New regulations meant a longtime Consumer Products client needed to adjust how it manufactured one of its most popular laundry detergents. SSOE was hired to lead the process mechanical design at the plant, which included new tanks, mixers, pumps, piping, and truck and rail unload spots.

The project required the double-walled piping design to be exact because it was being prefabricated in another state. To navigate that challenge, our team used laser-scanning technology to capture and route piping around the existing plant conditions.

All of the work followed Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) implementation principles and work flows. The project was on a tight timeline, with kickoff and planned completion less than one year apart. SSOE completed the bulk of the design within six months. The use of IPD allowed the team to deliver progressive work packages to the contractors to enable construction to begin sooner. As a result of the project, SSOE was able to more effectively collaborate with the client and other vendors and reduce waste by generating only the designs needed for the project.

The client was very pleased with the project – even naming it the year’s Top Project in their global Fabric and Homecare Division.

SSOE saved the client $84,000 by providing a design to reuse jacketed piping and existing valves, as well as switching to the main nozzle on the main mixer.

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SSOE recently partnered with a well-known Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to design a new manufacturing facility for agricultural products in the plant-based food industry. The overall design team was comprised of numerous entities in addition to SSOE that included multiple divisions within the OEM, as well as an architectural firm responsible for the building envelope and interior build-out.

There were six teams distributed across four countries in five different time zones. Successful execution of this project required frequent communication and close coordination.

The OEM partner is a major supplier of equipment in the process industries. They have the expertise and resources to provide the process and controls engineering. SSOE’s initial role on this project was to support the balance-of-plant design engineering, specifically the design and modeling of utility piping systems as well as the design and modeling of all the piping support structures throughout the plant. During the project, we also assumed responsibility for the design of steam, condensate, process wastewater, chilled water, potable water, and instrument air systems.

There were numerous challenges on this project that needed to be overcome by collaboration among all the design team members. One example is that the building design was already well underway when the other partners started detailed design so there were some unexpected constraints due to early assumptions regarding design criteria. Another challenge involved the mix of SI and Imperial units across the connections on equipment skids, piping system components, and in-line devices. Finally, due to supply chain issues prevalent at the time, the completion of OEM equipment skid design work was delayed which required an evolution of the project execution strategy to work around design information dependencies within the team.

Due to SSOE’s collaborative approach, attention to detail, and focus on the successful delivery of the overall project, our relationship with this OEM has been strengthened and we are well-positioned to collaborate on additional future projects.

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HCW Biologics needed to grow its operation and turned to SSOE to scale up. The client is transitioning from research and development to clinical trials for oncological and age-related medicine. With our Design-Build partner BE&K, SSOE provided full-service programming and planning, architecture, and engineering for the renovation of a 40,000 SF existing office, and warehouse space to be repurposed as laboratories, cGMP production spaces, warehouse, and support spaces.

Through workshops and collaboration with the scientific staff, our team generated a flexible and adaptable research laboratory. We worked with the client to develop their new production facility and guided the client through the development of their manufacturing procedures and established a Quality Assurance / Quality Control process.

Because the pharmaceutical industry is repatriating the drug manufacturing process, SSOE understood the client’s need to fast-track this project. Our national lab planner worked with HCW Biologics to ensure we were not repeating their smaller-scale configuration. Instead, we listened to the client to know what did and did not work in their limited operation to provide a more successful spatial arrangement in the designs for the larger operation.

SSOE designed spaces for specialty research labs including bioreactor, process, and microbiology, in addition to tissue culture and research laboratories. The new 5,000 SF cGMP cleanroom environment includes ISO 7 production labs and an ISO 6 sterile filling suite.

Finally, the project also included the addition of a new 1,000 SF vivarium space that is supplemental to animal holding including procedure rooms, isolation, and support spaces to facilitate vivarium operations. SSOE provided programming, planning, architecture, interior design, fire alarm, fire protection, technology, and structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and process engineering for the project. Construction will be completed in March 2024.

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When a client’s capital spending grew significantly, they needed to outsource some of their work. SSOE was a top choice when they set out to find engineering firms to manage their projects.

The first project was the installation of a new process moulding line for one of the client’s most popular candies. SSOE served as Engineer of Record for the original construction of this facility in 2009. Replacing the first production line that was installed during the original construction, this new process line has a much higher capacity and utilizes state-of-art technology to obtain improved efficiency. Project features include the moulding line, a 10,000 SF packaging mezzanine with a two-floor packaging operation, modifications to the peanut processing area and peanut butter kitchen, and additional utility infrastructure to support the operation.

What started as an FEL to confirm scope and refine the cost estimate in January 2022, quickly grew into a full, detailed design effort, then followed by a request to provide a field team to serve as the Owner’s Representative in support of the plant during construction.

One of the key components to the project’s success was the SSOE’s site team, composed of employees from SSOE’s León office, who worked with both the client and SSOE U.S.-based Subject Matter Experts, to help eliminate language and cultural barriers.

SSOE encountered challenges during the construction process. However, the team worked tirelessly to overcome these challenges and ensured the client remained satisfied. The client applauded our design and procurement processes, as well as our responsiveness and knowledge of the site. Even with delays, SSOE managed to make sure everything was delivered to the site and installed properly.

We built a partnership with the client and they viewed our field employees as an extension of their team, trusting us to drive results. This allowed the client’s engineering team to focus on other projects, saving time and money for the client. SSOE saved the client over $3 million. Of that, $2.5 million was realized in the FEL process and an additional $500,000 was saved through process improvements.

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SSOE’s design of vehicle and powertrain manufacturing facilities returned more than the total fee in construction savings when compared to the competition’s design for the same facility.

Toyota has utilized SSOE as their trusted A/E partner of choice since 1999. SSOE’s structural department has consistently designed facilities for Toyota that could be constructed for less than any of their competition in the market place, regularly designing much closer to the actual service factor. SSOE consistently delivers on schedule for Toyota, and the number of errors and omissions experiences is much lower than what they had seen with their previous engineering services providers.

With these factors in mind, it was an easy decision for Toyota to select SSOE to provide the design to double the size of their automobile manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana and for their greenfield facilities in San Antonio, Texas and Tupelo, Mississippi.

In Indiana, having gained an understanding of Toyota’s goals and needs from previous projects in France, SSOE provided architectural / engineering services for an addition to the existing factory space to double the assembly plant.

In Texas, SSOE provided the facility design for a greenfield truck assembly plant on a 2,000-acre site that included suppliers. SSOE also provided on-site engineering staff to Toyota’s Owner’s Representative Office (ORO) to support the construction efforts and coordinate the design documents during construction phases.

In Mississippi, SSOE performed the master planning and design of the plant, as well as provided on-site engineering staff to Toyota’s Owner’s Representative Office (ORO) to support the construction efforts and coordinate the design documents during construction phases.

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Gleeds is a leading global property and construction consultancy company, helping businesses and investors achieve the best value from their assets. With over 130 years of experience, their impartial intelligence is key to helping clients achieve their projects on budget, on time, and to an exceptional quality. SSOE was selected to help Gleeds create a new workplace that was welcoming and where their clients, employees, and co-consultants could be both productive and comfortable. The new space supports collaboration and is innovative with smart AV and remote technologies.

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Ford, our oldest client and one of America’s top electric vehicle brands, recently awarded SSOE the design of a new assembly plant—named the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center, part of Ford’s BlueOval City manufacturing complex—which resides on the West Tennessee Regional Megasite. This exciting new complex will become a vertically integrated ecosystem where Ford will assemble its next electric truck and batteries for future Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

Together with Walbridge as our construction partner, we’re executing the project under a design / build contract. In addition to the 4 million SF building design, we’ve been chosen as the engineer of record for the entire site design of the 4,000-acre mega campus. Our full scope of work includes preconstruction documents and detailed engineering as well as construction administration. Our team used the most innovative technology available to provide regular updates throughout the design process, with major deliverables scheduled out in advance for reviews and contractor use.

At its peak, SSOE assembled a dedicated team of more than 60 full-time employees to support the detailed design phase of the project. A project win for SSOE in several ways, this complex will also significantly support electric vehicle production in the Southeast U.S. and create close to 6,000 new jobs in Tennessee. Groundbreaking took place in May 2022 and Ford plans to begin production at BlueOval City in 2025.

On-Site and Full Circle
Our work on the West Tennessee Regional Megasite—formerly known as the Memphis Regional Megasite—actually dates back to 2007. SSOE worked with the State of Tennessee to develop the site and provided ongoing support as potential clients evaluated it. We were also involved with water and wastewater infrastructure projects specific to the site for over a decade. Worthy of note, SSOE provided the civil design of Ford’s BlueOval roundabout, an idea we presented to the client that makes Ford’s signature emblem shape—originally used to advertise Ford as the “hallmark for reliability and economy”—visible from the air.

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When Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group company, sought to build its first standalone lithium-ion battery production facility in the U.S., they knew they needed a partner with cleanroom, battery, and manufacturing experience. With SSOE’s reputation as an industry leader in the design of battery manufacturing facilities, greenfield site development expertise, and experience working with Panasonic on previous projects, they knew we could deliver their vision. SSOE was selected to provide primary engineering design and architectural design oversight.

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. We 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 2022, 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 make the location a key economic driver for the region.

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 to forecast a construction estimate in a post-COVID market. From there, we’ve continued to lead the project through the preliminary design phase. To mitigate labor market and supply chain challenges, the cutting-edge nature of lithium-ion battery manufacturing requires our design team to adapt to process and usage changes driven by Panasonic’s refinement to their battery technology. SSOE continues to suggest solutions that are adaptable to future process refinements.

Designing a facility that aligns with Panasonic’s employee-centric culture is 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 the production process into the 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. The fact that Panasonic and SSOE’s cultures naturally align has streamlined the ability to communicate and deliver what they’re looking for in this facility.

With a nearly 100-year history of innovation in batteries spanning both battery cell technology and battery business operations, Panasonic continues to strengthen its lineup of automotive lithium-ion batteries and expand its production capacity. The De Soto facility, the company’s first standalone EV battery facility in the U.S., will help do just that. The Japanese-based company’s expansion in Kansas is expected to bring 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.

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 2022, with production slated to begin in 2025.

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SSOE is proud to be Toyota’s engineering and design services provider for their BEV production facility on their 1,800-acre campus in Liberty, North Carolina. The new Toyota battery campus is currently in the design phase and will be constructed in phases over the next several years. This important investment for the Toyota Battery Manufacturing, North Carolina mega site further extends the 20+ year successful relationship between Toyota and SSOE.

SSOE is providing architecture, engineering, and on-site technical staff for the ambitious build, currently approximately 2.5 million SF of design is under construction. At full buildout, the project scope includes multiple BEV production lines with associated support buildings. In addition, Toyota continues to explore new energy savings opportunities for battery production at the campus in an effort to reach their long-term goal of carbon neutrality for its vehicles and operations by 2050.

Toyota’s robust campus vision includes the potential for a childcare facility, healthcare facility, and fitness center with associated outdoor sport courts. Adjacent to the team member amenities a park-like setting containing walking paths and green space is also under consideration.

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Through value engineering activities within the assembly and stamping areas, we provided more than $8 million in cost savings to Toyota.

SSOE provided design services for Toyota’s San Antonio plant, which spans more than 2 million SF, and continues to provide services for multiple projects as the facility grows. Our familiarity with the plant, on-site construction support services, and responsiveness make us a valuable asset to Toyota. Based on our intimate knowledge of this facility and our successful long-term working relationship with the client, Toyota selected SSOE as the A/E firm of choice for this program.

A number of factors drove this significant program. Changes to the Toyota Tundra model required a different assembly footprint to accommodate new options. Additionally, Toyota moved Sequoia production from their Indiana plant to San Antonio. This relocation called for alterations in multiple areas to house the new line. SSOE provided all architectural and engineering design services, including on-site representation and permitting for this program.

Our team leveraged technologies such as laser scanning, Cintoo, SharePoint, and Plangrid for file sharing and construction administration.

In total, the program affected eight plant areas including stamping, welding, Forma (an on-site supplier who shares space within the plant), Avanzar (an on-site supplier who feeds the assembly shop), Vuteq (a Tier 1 supplier), assembly shops, the east parking lot, and the dock area. Using a staggered approach with a significant focus on schedule, we coordinated the expansion of multiple areas simultaneously. Our team utilized non-production times to complete work without halting production.

SSOE coordinated a revised process layout for the assembly shop expansion, positioning noncritical spaces to the west and maintaining the roof pitch from the existing area to the new expansion. These value engineering measures eliminated the need for a step-up in the roof, new roof drains in the existing roof, new storm drainage piping, and existing structural member reinforcement to mitigate water ponding. These creative design concepts provided Toyota with savings of approximately $750,000.

For the stamping shop expansion, we began with a compressed air usage study. The results showed the existing system could support the new laser weld process with minor piping modifications. This discovery eliminated the need for a utility building expansion and associated equipment, providing a cost savings of $5 million. We continued value engineering within the stamping shop with our approach to the sheet receiving area. As sheet receiving is critical to the stamping process and cannot be shut down for an extended time, we developed a construction sequencing plan to reconfigure delivery to the area. This plan allowed the area to remain functional, saving Toyota approximately $2.5 million in lost production costs.

SSOE successfully executed this program though the strategic coordination of projects led by an experienced project manager and team with intimate knowledge of the entire facility. Our team collaborated with the client daily and leveraged on-site design reviews with the affected process groups to ensure our designs met their business needs and goals.

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Through the use of reality capture and advanced 3D modeling, SSOE was able to return $1.8 million in project savings to the client.

This global glass manufacturer called upon SSOE to assist with a capacity increase and process improvements at one of its production facilities. Because the project required integration of new equipment into an existing facility, the design team used laser scanning to capture an accurate representation of the space. An added layer of complexity came from the new equipment, which was a one-of-a-kind system. SSOE and the client worked collaboratively to ensure it would meet the desired outcome. The use of advanced 3D technology and laser scanning provided the client with the opportunity to see the proposed facility layout in a virtual environment before moving into the construction phase.

The unique equipment integration brought significant challenges for the design team that required a high degree of flexibility and agility to mitigate rapid changes. Through close collaboration and coordination, the SSOE team delivered a successful project, providing mechanical, electrical, controls, structural, architectural, and environmental design services. In addition to design services, the SSOE team played the role of equipment integrator, assisting with equipment design, commissioning, and start-up.

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Due to reliability concerns regarding the aging existing Distributed Control System (DCS), this major chemical manufacturer decided to replace it with a new system. This project involved the complete replacement of an obsolete ABB System 6 and Fischer Porter DCS, as well as Rockwell Automation PLCs and Triconex safety systems for the chemical supply chain. The replacement was completed in stages as part of a larger multi-generational program over a multi-year timeframe. Conversions were performed one process at a time and required the coordination of five process outages. In the largest process area, more than 800 I/O points were converted “live” to avoid an outage. In total, 1,800 I/O points were converted across two control rooms and five nestrooms.

SSOE’s instrumentation and controls professionals provided engineering services from Frontend loading (FEL) through detailed design to convert the legacy DCS system to a new Siemens PC57 system. Our FEL work included electrical and instrumentation and controls scope definition, including supporting disciplines. The detailed design scope included engineering for new and modified instrumentation, electrical UPS system, grounding, power to new control panels, heat tracing, motor control interfacing, electrical raceways, instrumentation and network cabling, junction boxes, Smart Plant Instrumentation (SPI) drawings for wiring from field instruments through junction boxes and to DCS cabinet terminations, instrument location plans, design reviews, construction work packages, construction support, and as-builts.

Detailed, accurate construction packages were delivered on time and within budget, with engineering driven field changes equaling less than 5% of the total installed cost.

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SSOE completed the redesign and historic rehabilitation of the empty David T. Howard School, once attended by notable African American luminaries such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., into a modern middle school in the heart of Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.

The $52 million project, which began in early 2017, includes an administrative wing based on an originally designed element that was never built, a four-level classroom addition, media center, auditorium, music wing, and kitchen and cafeteria.

The design team’s approach focused on the existing plan diagram to ensure the building’s historic features were maintained. The new addition connects to the existing building with elements that keep the existing building’s brick visible and joins all the building’s components.

The school is a four-story concrete frame building with brick cladding. The floor plan is a simple “U” shape with corridors connecting the classroom wings. The main entrances along the bottom of the “U” are also identified by decorative brick and stone details. The existing classroom building reflects the original layout as much as possible, and the new classroom wing consists of core, science, and music classrooms; the kitchen and cafeteria; and an auditorium.

SSOE designed a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) HVAC system with 100% outdoor air for the classroom portions of the building, including the historic building. The VRF system allowed the design team to minimize ductwork in the classrooms and maintain the existing high ceilings in the historic classrooms and corridors. Because the VRF outdoor units weigh less than conventional systems, the design team was able to minimize structural modifications to the historic building, saving cost and time. The areas served by VRF are paired with packaged roof top dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS) with energy recovery. The new DOAS and VRF HVAC systems designed for the project will save energy over the years to come and contribute to an optimal indoor environmental quality for the students and staff and give each space served the ability to control space environmental conditions.

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SSOE was able to identify and suggest a 1/3 reduction in overall equipment costs for Phase II— translating to nearly $1.5 million in savings for the client.

To meet growing demand, a well-known electric vehicle manufacturer formed a strategic partnership with a leading battery manufacturer to construct a factory to manufacture electric motors and battery packs. The facility is being built in two phases, with the second phase involving the installation of additional battery production lines and associated utility system upgrades. SSOE was selected to provide engineering and design services for the second phase.

This project was uniquely challenging. Merging the battery manufacturing client’s improved technology with the vehicle manufacturer’s ongoing production capacity increase in one shared facility created a need for simultaneous site and equipment upgrades. SSOE’s cross-functional team assisted with planning all aspects of the expansion, virtually eliminating the risk of design gaps. Using this cross-functional team dramatically improved the holistic design and minimized issues in the field.

SSOE provided support for the following critical functions:

  • Utility Systems. Our team assessed system capacities, including compressed air, cooling water, dry room design alternatives, and production environment baselining. Once we understood these systems, we were able to determine which needed additions and/or modifications. Our focus then turned to the details around battery manufacturing. Beginning with raw material flow analysis, we then followed with space planning to ensure the production equipment would fit. The team confirmed that proper maintenance and utility spaces were incorporated into the design and that the equipment was in working order. SSOE also provided regeneration options for site HVAC systems and all water and water cooling systems.
  • Safety. With safety at the forefront of all projects we execute, our team provided chemical process analysis and confirmed proper permitting and certification for chemical usage in various manufacturing steps. We also ensured overhead clearances, aligned beam attachments to catwalks, and confirmed proper electrical, egress, and operational clearances. SSOE’s design assured both people and equipment could move safely throughout the facility.
  • Site Stability. SSOE’s structural team inspected site supports and analyzed how the equipment operated to ensure proper anchoring for safety and successful long-term production. Our team recognized that previous equipment installations had been insufficiently anchored, which caused damage to the slabs and cracked the foundation. We were able to mitigate these issues and provided suggestions for improvement. Additionally, SSOE partnered with both clients at the project onset to align on the optimal project approach. Through close collaboration during the construction and procurement stage and supporting the trade bid process, SSOE helped reduce overall equipment cost by about one-third of the project budget, translating to about $1.5 million in savings. With additional battery production lines slated for installation in the near future, SSOE’s practices will be replicated, with better documentation and a strong basis of information to copy, which will result in future operational savings.
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Originally built in the early 1950s by Atlanta architect James C. Wise, the post-war efficiency apartment building has been restored to its previous mid-century modern style after previous renovations converted the building into senior housing and condominium units. Located near Buckhead Village, the SSOE design team transformed the condominium units into a 216-key hotel that now features a restaurant and bar, courtyard dining, a private pool, and a rooftop lounge.

As part of this historic renovation, the original corridors and circulation cores were maintained, and the 216 guestrooms were configured to closely align with the footprint of the initial 1950’s apartments. The existing single-pane aluminum windows were refurbished, and large openings in the brick façade that had been cut-in for HVAC units were carefully toothed back. The entire exterior received a fresh coat of white paint, with light gray accentuating the horizontal elements of concrete brows and sills that trim the windows. At the rooftop, the previous deck was expanded by converting an abandoned mechanical penthouse into a colorful bar venue with roll-up doors and sweeping views of the Buckhead neighborhood.

The preservation of expansive landscaped areas, dining patios, and secret gardens surround the property, each with substantial hundred-year oak and magnolia trees providing canopy above. The seclusion offers a respite from the bustle of Buckhead, yet the property still engages with the urban fabric through the addition of two grand stairs connecting the sidewalk to the south entrance, which is under an existing concrete canopy. A restaurant occupies the same space as one did through the 1970s, with a new romantic dining patio overlooking East Paces Ferry.

The new porte-cochere on the east façade protects hotel guests’ arrival with a prominent steel and polycarbonate canopy inspired by angled canopies of the mid-century modern era. Guests enter through the original vestibule with new stained-glass windows and are met with an inviting living room area featuring a fireplace and views into the courtyard bar. That “secret garden” provides covered dining beneath a steel canopy and pergola, or intimate seating arrangements interspersed throughout the winding landscape paths.

The Kimpton Sylvan Hotel is an award-winning project for adaptive reuse and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Recently, this confidential automotive manufacturer completed the first phase of its new manufacturing plant in Southwest USA. SSOE served as the architect and Engineer of Record (EOR) for the 800,000+ SF facility, designing Phase I of the four-phase master plan that included a body shop and paint shop with general assembly. Additionally, SSOE’s team provided the designs for a Central Utility Building (CUB) and auxiliary buildings, preparing the campus for producing a luxury electric car with a 400-mile range battery.

The need for future expansion was at the forefront of the plan when our team designed the buildings and systems. Our mechanical and electrical systems design allowed for future expansion without affecting existing operations. We sized compressed air, chilled water, and other necessary systems to handle the additional load from the growing processes. The center courtyard will eventually include a park-like setting to create the ultimate experience for team members and visitors, encompassing various local types of fauna and outdoor spaces for collaboration. SSOE coordinated the master plan with the site developer and provided the needed renderings and documents to support the client during site plan approval, including a variance required to allow for the paint shop’s planned building height.

The project location brought unique challenges, as the buildings and systems needed to be designed to withstand potential extreme weather conditions. Collaboration between all team members was key to this project’s success. We held meetings with the client to coordinate design activities and construction timing to keep the project on track with its aggressive schedule.

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SSOE worked with Delta Air Lines on the renovations to its administrative headquarters lobby and café.

Enhancing Delta’s Brand & Image

Creating an exciting and inspiring first impression for visitors, a space for employees to recharge, and a place to celebrate the heritage of a great company were several goals of the lobby and Woolman Café renovation project. The project supports Delta Air Lines in employee recruitment and retention while drastically enhancing its brand and image. By incorporating natural lighting, furniture selection, finishes and materials, artwork, lighting, and graphics, the newly renovated lobby / café spaces accommodate five services brands, doubled the seating capacity, and demonstrates Delta’s story in a sophisticated and progressive design.

New Hub of Collaboration

The lobby and café work together to create a new employee hub for collaboration, technology, and mobility as well as access to employee amenities including a clinic, fitness center, pharmacy, meeting rooms, and central elevator core for the building. While the lobby addressed Delta’s story, heritage, and visitor reception, the café’s vision is a positive influence on all who encounter the Delta community. The design is fresh, lively, honest, and unexpectedly fun.

Thoughtful & Energized Environment

Converting the existing spaces into this thoughtful, energized environment was no easy task requiring coordination with existing building infrastructure, systems, kitchens, elevators, life safety stairs, and exits. Opening existing exterior walls with large clear windows provides views to the organization’s bustling corporate campus.

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The first EDGE radiosurgery LINAC of its kind in North America—second in the world.

Henry Ford Health System chose SSOE Group to provide architectural and engineering services, which included the removal of a linear accelerator (LINAC) and installation of a new Varian EDGE radiosurgery system in an existing vault in the basement of Henry Ford Hospital. Initially, the vault was not adequately shielded for the radiation output of the new equipment, as determined by the client’s on-staff physicist. SSOE worked closely with the physicist, shielding contractor, and construction manager to creatively solve this problem and ultimately provided a fully-shielded treatment room to house the first EDGE radiosurgery LINAC of its kind in North America—second in the world.

SSOE has become a trusted partner of Henry Ford Health System over the years, often called upon to provide our expertise in some of the most challenging of circumstances. We pride ourselves on providing the finest solutions in architectural, structural, mechanical, and engineering services to allow our customers to provide their patients with unparalleled healthcare. The EDGE radiosurgery system allows doctors to minimize treatment time and provide more accurate treatment of cancerous tumors, while minimizing radiation damage to normal tissue surrounding the tumor.

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To support their North American growth in the production of automotive electronic components, Continental AG chose an EPCM approach to deliver a modern, world-class greenfield facility in central Mexico. Due to our deep understanding of what is currently driving Continental’s business, knowledge of their various facilities, ability to successfully partner on large-scale projects, and proximity to the site, SSOE was selected to serve as designer, construction manager, and owner’s agent on the project located in FINSA Industrial Park.

The expert design team we assembled utilized SSOE’s Revit-based platform to create a complex 3D model that was used for weekly review meetings, and can be further utilized by the client’s maintenance staff to make future updates and repairs. Although our U.S. staff served as the discipline leads, we engaged our multidisciplinary, English-speaking team in León, Mexico to heavily support the design phase and bring additional value to our client. During the design phase, our team suggested design enhancements to achieve Continental’s desired vision for the new facility—suggestions were incorporated with no
impact to the original schedule.

Building areas on the 122,000 sq. m. site totaled 24,250 sq. m. and consisted of a single story manufacturing facility and adjacent two-story office, staff area, and cafeteria. The project also included infrastructure lines on-site, internal roads, parking lots, bus drop off and truck waiting areas, as well as median connections to the park road at the boundary of the property. Design was complete within the aggressive five month schedule.

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Having extensive international manufacturing experience combined with nationwide higher education experience made SSOE the right choice for Owens Community College for the design of their new Dana Advanced Manufacturing Training Center. SSOE’s manufacturing facility design experts worked closely with our higher education team and the client to incorporate the latest manufacturing trends into Owen’s new real-world training center. We have worked on thousands of industrial projects and kept pace with this dynamic industry by working alongside experts in the field. The application of the knowledge we have gained resulted in the delivery of a teaching and training facility that truly reflects today’s manufacturing environments. Simulation of real-world working environments allows students to be prepared for success as they complete their courses and enter the workforce.

This project included the renovation of an existing high bay building into an advanced manufacturing education and workforce training facility. The facility includes seven classrooms for training and education, five computer labs, hydraulic / pneumatic lab, two mechanical labs, three electrical labs, a robotics lab, pipefitting lab, four building trade labs, group project space, storage for tools and supplies, and offices spaces. The training center houses approximately $3-$4 million worth of advanced manufacturing equipment. Also included in the project is site development to include 100-200 new parking spaces adjacent to the building. The building’s entire mechanical system was also evaluated and updated as needed to fit the project’s needs.

SSOE performed architecture, civil, structural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing engineering, fire protection, technology, communications, security design, interior design, and loose furnishings design.

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Nissan North America commissioned SSOE to provide the design of its new automotive assembly facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico. This 1.9 million SF facility is the first of three project phases planned for the greenfield site. SSOE delivered this fast-track project in partnership with Yates Construction, who served as the prime general contractor and provided at risk construction services for the manufacturing plant. The plant was designed, constructed, and placed in production within 22 months.

SSOE was responsible for the entire assembly plant layout and subsequent design of the automotive manufacturing campus. The project involved multiple buildings to be completed simultaneously, including more than 300 acres of developed land, a stamping facility, body assembly shop, paint shop, and final assembly area. Additional facilities were designed to support the manufacturing system, such as an electrical switchyard; water pretreatment, wastewater treatment, and stormwater systems; and a fire protection system, including storage tanks.

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ProMedica Health System, a locally owned, non-profit healthcare organization serving Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan established in 1986, has completed the renovation and construction of their new corporate headquarters in downtown Toledo, Ohio. The move to downtown’s waterfront entailed the renovation of the vacant historical Edison Steam Plant, renovation of the adjacent former Key Bank building, and construction of a new multi-level parking structure.

In cooperation with HKS, SSOE was the firm of choice to provide full mechanical, electrical, plumbing, technology, and fire protection (MEPT / FP) design services for the two large commercial office structures. Our team of experts carefully evaluated the existing buildings and the historic aspect of each building that needed to be maintained, and provided detailed engineering design for the HVAC and plumbing systems, the Data / Fire / Security systems, the fire suppression systems, and the electrical system, including site lighting.

The existing Key Bank building will house a new YMCA space in the basement level, the Chop House restaurant on the lobby level, and office spaces on floors two, three, and four. The large variety of mixed building use is unique to this type of project but was successfully handled by the design team. SSOE is proud to be a part of this local project that promotes economic growth and urban revitalization. The project was completed in August 2017.

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Through innovative design concepts, benchmarking common practices, and scheduling, SSOE has saved the client more than $7.3 million to date.

Nimble and resourceful, SSOE quickly increased personnel for a critical tool installation design project when a semiconductor client accelerated release of a new technology. This project, part of an ongoing program for the client, included the installation of 250 tools over the course of a year.

Initially, the project required all design work to be performed in Oregon. However, due to the quick ramp up needed on this project, the client determined that design work could be completed remotely. SSOE quickly responded, engaging tool installation design teams in New Mexico and Arizona to support the Oregon team. In addition—for the first time in SSOE’s tool installation design program history—SSOE’s Mumbai, India, and Leon, Mexico, teams were engaged to provide critical support to meet project demands. Getting these international team members on board allowed for greater agility and flexibility on this project. In addition, it allows for a trained workforce to be available on short notice for burst capacity as well as subsequent easing off the project as workload diminishes. This approach keeps SSOE’s project budgets and schedules healthy and, in turn, enables our clients to get their products to market on-time to meet demand at a competitive price point.

In addition to providing a high level of service on this project, SSOE implemented a number of efficiencies that have saved the client more than $7.3 million to date. A utilization-based resource staffing model and a workshare agreement form, as well as innovative design concepts, have all contributed to these significant project savings.

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The scope of this project involved the conversion of an existing 500,000 SF pet food facility from a textile manufacturing facility to a wet pet food facility and distribution warehouse. The site, idle for nearly a decade, required extensive refurbishment, site improvements, and building modifications to make it ready for the new processes. The project included site development, construction, design, equipment procurement, installation, and start-up of two canning lines.

The initial project phase included the civil site design, with additional parking, new roadways, laydown areas for construction, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP); lighting, and a completely new medium voltage site electrical distribution system. Interior work included the definition and design of new rooms, new floor slab, industrial waste drain system, design and specification of new utilities (HVAC, boilers, compressed air, bio-filter odor control, and others), process and packaging design, and overall modeling / BIM/VDC.

Due to the complexity of the project and condensed schedule, multiple entities were engaged across a wide variety of tasks, requiring a high level of collaboration. For example, separate design / build efforts were needed for the freezer, empty can building, compactor area, wastewater treatment, and employee center. Coordination was also extensive between the multiple layers of the client’s project management and engineering disciplines. Lastly there were multiple vendor supplied “modules” (dries, meat bins, gravy, and packaging), which were integrated into the design and installation.

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In The Heart Of Downtown

Trinity Avenue Mixed-Use Housing Development will be located in downtown Atlanta, across from Atlanta City Hall at Trinity and Central Avenues. The site studied is adjacent to a public parking deck which was previously built to accommodate an additional level to support development on this property.

Bringing Housing To A Needed Area

This [conceptual] project includes a vertical expansion of an additional parking level that will connect to the residential building and remain connected to City Hall. The building will be eight (8) stories with 113,595-square feet for workforce residential units, 7,500-square feet of commercial/retail space, and a 5,500-square foot amenity courtyard.

Unique Parking Deck Amenities

Residents will be able to enjoy an 18,000-square foot roof garden on the parking deck. In addition, the parking deck will feature a Solar Harvesting Area.

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SSOE assisted a leading global life sciences manufacturer with developing Conceptual Design (FEL I), engineering estimates, and a program schedule for a new Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) facility located in the Midwest. Forecasted demand for existing products cannot be accommodated within the owner’s existing facilities. As a result, SSOE developed a building concept to accommodate the increased manufacturing space, increased QA/QC and Micro Lab space, Stability Chambers, Product Development spaces, and general meeting and assembly spaces. The study also included investigating possible placement of the new building on the existing campus or locating it on one of two neighboring properties.

SSOE’s pharmaceutical design team collaborated closely with the client to create building conceptual design and site layout options, budgets, and an overall project schedule. SSOE fully integrated its Construction Management team into the project from Day 1 to provide a high level of estimate and schedule accuracy.

Building Highlights

  • The building network, instrumentation, and process equipment are being designed to allow full digitization of the manufacturing process.
  • The building will be comprised of ISO 7 (Micro Lab), ISO 8, ISO 9, CNC, and mechanical spaces.
  • Purified water (PW) and deinonized water (DI) generation systems will support manufacturing and laboratory spaces respectively.
  • Compressed gasses will be centrally located, and fully piped and instrumented delivery systems will serve both the production and lab spaces to completely eliminate the need for gas cylinders to be moved around inside the building.
  • Currently in Capex Funding Phase, detailed design is scheduled to begin in fall of 2021.
  • The estimated production start date is the 4th quarter of 2023.
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One of our long-standing consumer products clients recently acquired several product lines from a global healthcare company’s consumer health division. To expand further in the Latin American markets, they wanted to create a production facility in Mexico. After a recommendation from a general contracting partner in Mexico, they short-listed our team to provide design engineering services and ultimately hired us based on our knowledge of Lean tools and delivery methods, our relationship with the client’s U.S. counterparts, and our ability to work locally.

Still underway, the new three-story, 50,000 SF freestanding facility is being built in a fully Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) environment. Although we’ve completed projects at varying degrees of Lean intensity, this is SSOE’s first Integrated Form of Agreement (IFOA)—a contract that incorporates Lean practices and establishes shared risk and reward with our client and three trade partners to tie team success to project success.

The SSOE-designed facility will produce solid oral dose tablets for over-the-counter distribution in a growing market on our client’s existing campus. Our team is also providing process design, validation, and start-up services, bringing in a resource in product development to assist with formulation transfers and technology selections. By having project activities occur concurrently, it is allowing and engaging early contribution of knowledge and expertise of contractors in key trades.

The design phase is complete and construction is underway. SSOE has a full-time engineering resource on-site as a single point of contact for the trade partners and client. This full-time presence is a significant investment, but we believe the time savings associated with rapid information flow and increased quality control makes this a cost and time savings approach.

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In an effort to double its current coated tablet production capacity, a leading nutraceutical manufacturer requested SSOE provide architectural, engineering, and construction management services to increase its production area by approximately 3,500 SF. SSOE led the design for simultaneous operation of two separate tablet coating processes, which included the installation of tablet coating equipment and utilities, an air handling unit with dust collector and blower, conveyor systems, a bulk unloading system, and relocation of the deionized water system. To allow for the capacity increase, SSOE designed expansions to the manufacturing area by utilizing available floor space for a new tablet coating room with auxiliary rooms for cleaning. Our structural team calculated and designed requirements to maintain structural integrity to support the new equipment.

SSOE’s structural, process / utilities, mechanical, and electrical disciplines provided a wide range of engineering services for process design and equipment layout. Our project management team developed the project budget and installation schedule, and oversaw contractor bid reviews and vendor drawing reviews. We also provided construction management services to reduce the cost of hiring a general contractor and matched hours to the project schedule requirements.

Our project team came through in the clutch by quickly adjusting to a “crash schedule” due to delayed project approval, and completed all installations by the established project completion date. In an effort to remain on schedule throughout the project duration, SSOE’s on-site construction management personnel worked weekends, holidays, and extended work week hours to make this project a success.

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SSOE has documented nearly $2 million in savings, including $1.6 million for the AMS upgrade project, $153,000 for the tray washer project, and $101,000 for the first set of conditioning rooms, corn syrup tanks, and kitchen platforms.

To keep up with consumer demand, a leading nutraceutical manufacturer needed to double its current gummy vitamin production capacity—increasing the current production area by approximately 8,200 SF. SSOE led the design for simultaneous production of multiple colors and flavors, which required modifications to the up front unit operations and an upgrade to the existing Additive Mixing System (AMS). Installation of bulk truck unloading transfer piping with heat tracing and two new 5,000 gallon corn syrup tanks was also included in the project scope. To allow for the capacity increase, SSOE designed expansions to the manufacturing area, seven new conditioning rooms, and a mezzanine to support a new heat exchanger without taking up valuable floor space. Our structural team designed safety enhancements in the kitchen areas by designing new access platforms. Additionally, SSOE designed a new COP room to accommodate new tray washing equipment to satisfy the flow of operations.

SSOE’s structural, process / utilities, mechanical, and electrical disciplines provided a wide range of engineering services for process design and equipment layout. Our project management team provided the project budget development and installation schedule, and oversaw contractor bid reviews and vendor drawing reviews. We also provided construction management services to reduce the cost of hiring general contractors and matched hours to suit the project schedule needs.

Due to delayed equipment arrival, the SSOE project team needed to quickly adjust to a “crash schedule” as the project moved toward completion. Understanding the urgency for speed to market, SSOE’s on-site construction management personnel worked weekends, holidays, and extended work week hours to meet the client’s desired completion date.

SSOE has since provided ongoing design and engineering services for this client, supporting the manufacturing of a variety of gummies including prenatal and food-based vitamins as well as fiber supplements.

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SSOE was selected as the A/E services provider for KORE Power’s greenfield battery cell production facility, KOREPlex. KORE Power is a U.S.-based developer of battery cell technology for the energy storage and electric transportation industries. The design / build team, comprised of KORE Power, Yates Construction, and SSOE, began design in late 2021 with construction beginning mid-2022.

Some of the advanced manufacturing attributes of KOREPlex will include automated cell assembly lines, automated material movement and handling, an automated packaging line, and a pandemic-ready design to allow for safe workspaces.

The facility’s many cleanrooms are designed to maintain very low humidity requirements throughout the space, some targeting a temperature / humidity setpoint within the -45°C dew point range. The design uses dedicated desiccant chilled water dehumidification units to dry the air, while also providing space-level cooling. The rooms also utilize recirculating air handling units to allow for HEPA-level filtration and overall cleanroom pressurization requirements.

The design of the KOREPlex facility provides SSOE with an opportunity for our team to draw upon our unique expertise in the battery manufacturing sector—combining our understanding of large-scale manufacturing facilities with a technical mastery of controlled environments and process engineering.

The KOREPlex facility will support up to 14 gigawatt hours (GWh) of battery cell production, producing nearly 60 million battery cells annually. This new facility supports a reliable and independent U.S. supply chain for lithium-ion battery cells, which is critical to the future of electric vehicles, power grids, and more. The facility will have the production capacity provide power for 3.2 million homes per year.

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Avondale Estate’s downtown reflects its endearing 1920s Tudor Village and a mixture of commercial and residential development. In 2017, 3,500 residents held a ‘Call for Ideas’ on developing four underutilized city-owned acres, creating a heart for the downtown area and a catalyst for economic growth. SSOE provided a concept plan for a destination park with adjacent commercial development. Two two-story mixed-use buildings overlook a two-acre park designed with active and passive uses for city events, festivals, and concerts. At the site’s highest elevation, a grand terrace has outdoor dining and prime seating for events, with a sweeping view of the park. An existing road bisecting the site becomes a pedestrian-only path that, along with new pathways, increases pedestrian and district connectivity.

SSOE provided architecture and engineering services for the park portion of the project as part of the developer-led team selected by the city. After a robust public involvement process, the team-established critical goals for the project – a flexible central gathering space with an identity that is unique. SSOE coordinated the work of all disciplines: landscape architecture, civil, lighting design, structural, and electrical engineering.

SSOE designed the Performance Pavilion, which has a stage fronting the Performance Green, covered seating facing a playground, and a decorative brick enclosure screening existing utility duct banks that are too expensive to relocate. In addition, SSOE designed the Market Pavilion, an open-air structure for events, food trucks, and farmer’s markets. Both buildings feature glulam arches that nod toward the Tudor architecture. Brick details match the Arts and Crafts style found throughout Avondale. Curved roofs and walls of the Performance Pavilion are in harmony with the winding site design.

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SSOE’s client ProMedica, a prominent hospital and healthcare system serving communities in 28 states, was interested in providing services to an underserved area of Toledo, Ohio, where the client’s headquarters resides. The building selected had been vacant for years, sitting on a corner just outside the Central Business District in a re-emerging urban neighborhood. Our client wanted to address the social determinants of health, with a focus on hunger and nutrition, and increase access to healthy food, delivering nutritional education, and providing job training opportunities.

The renovation of all four floors was completed in three phases. Although it would have been ideal to work on all four floors concurrently, the budget constraints on this donation-funded project, in addition to the fact each floor had its own separate and unique systems, required our team to exercise their agility by renovating one floor at a time. First came the Market on the Green—a 6,700 SF nonprofit grocery store that offers nutritional options for people in the neighborhood, formerly deemed a “food desert.” Located on the ground floor, the full-service grocery store also offers nutrition education for customers in an area that previously lacked accessibility to whole food providers. The second floor now offers financial services, training rooms, as well as a space for healthy cooking classes—complete with a commercial kitchen. The third floor is currently leased out to a tenant who hired 60 individuals from the neighborhood and has committed to creating more Toledo-based jobs in the future. The fourth and final floor is currently being utilized by ProMedica’s Population Health program.

The fourth floor is the capstone of the building and the Ebeid Institute initiative. The open workspace immediately welcomes visitors upon entering, offering a view from the top and a different perspective of their neighborhood. The three enclosing walls are perforated with multiple window openings, with an unadorned solid brick wall as the backdrop for mechanical room and multiple gathering spaces of varying size for clients to privately meet with their service providers. Along this row of meeting spaces is a dedicated nerve center intended to evolve into a data-gathering / data-sharing hub within a technology-rich environment. Here researchers and guests can obtain the latest information on Population Health and the social determinants. The glass-fronted room serves as a symbol of ProMedica’s vision to provide a gateway to a healthy community.

SSOE was involved in the renovation of all four floors, providing full architectural and engineering design services, including interior design, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection design, and data / fire / security services. Redeveloping a space that would bring multiple agencies together is not an easy feat. An adaptable, flexible design was needed to meet the conditions, the building reflected an open plan arrangement with larger spaces, which was also key for keeping visitors emotionally and physically engaged. Existing architecture was maintained on the 1925’s stone and brick building, with existing joists and beams exposed and many of the walls left uncovered to preserve the original aesthetic. Our knowledge of complex security design allowed us to make the building welcoming for visitors, yet secure for tenants.

Today, the ProMedica Ebeid Institute is a safe place for people to connect with neighbors and service providers—a place just for them. It also provides a much needed grocery store for the area. It brought social services to uptown and set the stage for other organizations to follow suit. This area now provides more social services than any other district in the area.

 

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New Downtown Housing Development

The goal of 728 Market St. was to provide a new workforce housing development in Chattanooga, revitalizing the downtown area. Challenges of the downtown site include managing space constraints, addressing wind loads, providing light / views, and offering a product the market would positively respond to.

Mix Of Units

This project includes 125 residential units, of which there is a 85%-15% mix of one bedrooms to two bedrooms. The units feature sliding glass doors, operable windows, LVT plank flooring, and modern kitchens with granite tops and a stainless appliance package.

Shared Elements

Residents also share an amenity space with a workout room and roof deck for entertaining. Below the seven residential levels, there are 65 parking spaces for the residents, a level of loft office space, and retail / restaurant tenants at the street level. The project is certified “LEED for Homes.”

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SSOE provided architectural design, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and LEED® and energy modeling services on this new 25,000 SF North Warehouse and Distribution Center for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). This new space now consolidates all warehousing efforts onto the National Institute of Health (NIH) campus, not only increasing security, but eliminating the need for off-site leasing facilities.

The client’s goal was to design and construct the facility as a source basis Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB), a building that produces enough renewable energy to off-set its total source energy consumption on an annual basis. Net zero buildings are recognized worldwide as one of the highest aspirations in energy performance in the built environment. Creating a net zero building requires two basic steps. The first step is to increase energy efficiency through efficient building construction, efficient systems and appliances, operations and maintenance, and changes in user behavior. The second step is to address the remaining energy needs with on-site renewable energy generation. SSOE helped the NIEHS achieve both of these.

Since Title IV mandates that federally owned and operated facilities include LEED, the SSOE team not only designed a NZEB for this project, they also had to achieve LEED compliance for the systems used in the building. While the minimum acceptable certification level for the project was LEED Gold, the project team was able to achieve LEED Platinum in early October 2018. Additionally, the facility is the only NZEB in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Based on the calculations from the energy model, the project will save the client 157,000 kWh/year or approximately $12,381 year.

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Viridi Parente is a developer of innovative battery technology that can be safely installed and operated in nearly any environment or location. The project increases the space on their 42-acre green tech campus to meet robust demand for its safe battery technology solutions. The company is working with Alberici Constructors to add 60,000 SF, expanding its total research lab, assembly, office, and production space to 180,000 SF. The expansion also integrates automation features, such as robotic welding technology and a vertical lift management system throughout the manufacturing space.

Located in a plant that was originally built by General Motors in 1923, Viridi Parente bought the plant in 2008 and renovated it to meet their needs and to better align the plant’s power usage with Viridi Parente’s goals of producing products with sustainable energy.

SSOE partnered with Alberici to provide mechanical, structural, electrical, data / fire / security, as well as fire protection engineering services on this project because of our specialized lithium-ion battery plant design expertise. Our team worked together with the client and Alberici to provide design solutions that are both sustainable and cost-effective. The newly expanded spaces include 30,000 SF for lab and assembly space and an additional 30,000 SF for increase shipping and receiving capacity. Prior to the expansion, the company occupied 120,000 SF of the campus facility with 60,000 SF of battery and machine assembly space featuring automotive-grade QA/QC, a fully integrated assembly process. It also included 20,000 SF of office and lab space, including a dedicated state-of-the-art battery testing lab for life cycle cell and module testing, thermal testing, and R&D as well as 40,000 SF shipping and receiving warehouse.

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We had a really great experience. Our engineer was very knowledgeable in the canning industry, which was tremendously helpful… It felt very refreshing to be dealing with an engineer who also understood food safety. That is incredible. Having our engineer with that knowledge, and understanding food in general, and more specifically canned food manufacturing, was tremendously helpful, especially because we had such a new leadership team with no food knowledge. That was great.

~Plant Quality Manager

When faced with an unexpected three-month project delay, this long-time tomato processing client understood the possibility that the SSOE Project Manager (PM) might not be available when the project was set to resume. As a result, the client elected to adjust their project plans to maintain access to our PM’s expertise by transferring him to assess a similar project at one of their Canadian plants until the original project was ready to re-start.

The client’s Director of Continuous Improvement responsible for can seaming had worked with SSOE’s PM on multiple U.S. can conversion projects two years earlier. He asked our PM to take over managing a can conversion project he was overseeing. This plant had recently contracted with a new can vendor and needed to adjust their equipment to work for the new cans. Our scope included the seaming portion of the project plus an overhaul of the canning lines, completing both in time for the tomato harvest.

The project included 12 existing filling line seamers and was completed in a two-phase approach. Phase 1 included completing nine lines in preparation for tomato harvest. Phase 2 completed the remaining three lines that were being used for re-manufactured product while Phase 1 was being completed. This approach allowed us to address any quality issues with both re-man and tomato harvest processing. The SSOE PM remained in the plant during the beginning of tomato harvest to ensure the new processes worked as designed. This alternate assignment retained SSOE’s PM and allowed the client to benefit from his expertise until it was time for him to transfer back to the original project in the U.S.

During the time spent on-site, the SSOE PM leveraged his food industry expertise and experience to identify additional opportunities for improvement with regard to food safety. The client was extremely pleased to have the extra set of eyes on their process and found our PM’s observations to be invaluable. Though this was not part of the scope of work for the can conversion project, communicating these observations and offering suggestions for ways to correct the findings solidified our relationship with the client and plant leadership.

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SSOE worked with Nikola Corporation, a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles (BEV), fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV), and energy infrastructure solutions, as a design partner for their new manufacturing facility in Coolidge, Arizona.

Now complete, the zero-emissions facility has the capacity to produce Class 8 commercial semi-trucks. The facility features in-house offices, conference rooms, and support facilities which showcase Nikola technology and culture.

As part of the initial facility master planning, SSOE provided a conceptual site layout and arrangements for the envisioned facility, including block diagram floor plans. Our team presented a conceptual artistic rendering for the exterior facility design in its surroundings to provide a realistic representation of the proposed facility, drawing from examples of desired building aesthetics provided by Nikola.

The SSOE / Walbridge team helped the Phase 1 master plan vision into a reality by providing design and construction management services.

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A New Life Design Program

Supporting Bowling Green State University’s strategic plan, the Life Design program will occupy the majority of the existing Math & Science Building, built circa 1967 and located on a prominent site in the heart of campus. Project scope/objectives includes, creating a dynamic, collaborative, and functional home for the new Life Design program; developing a refreshed south façade and second floor entrance experience that promotes new and existing functions within the Math and Science Building; and creating a new exterior plaza at the building entrance.

A Highly Inclusive And Collaborative Project Process

SSOE is utilizing a highly inclusive and collaborative project process. By forging strong partnerships with University stakeholders, the new design will address the drivers at the heart of the project’s goals, mission, and objectives. In doing so, the team will be able to creatively capitalize on what’s possible, and thereby achieve a meaningful solution that will inspire stakeholder and student success. Life Design is a differentiator for Bowling Green State University; the program starts by teaching their students to design their college experience and then they provide them with the tools to design their life. The interior layout and modifications to the building’s exterior will support this unique mission.

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Design-Build Engineering

As part of the design-build team with Turner Construction Company, our firm provided architectural and structural engineering design services for the SPLOST IV Capital Improvement Program.

Multi-Purpose Space

The new two-level classroom building addition includes eight standard classrooms along with one large multipurpose space that can be subdivided into two smaller rooms. The lower level, opens to an existing exterior courtyard and the area between the new buildings and existing facility is covered with a continuous canopy.

Design Balance

Designed with the surrounding community in mind, the 4/5 Academy addition respects the scale of the adjacent residential neighborhood.

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Architectural & Structural Design

As part of the design-build team with Turner Construction Company, our firm provided architectural and structural engineering design services for the SPLOST IV Capital Improvement Program.

Eight Classroom Addition

The new eight classroom building addition at Oakhurst Elementary School includes demolition of an existing kindergarten wing and the redevelopment of site utilities. Additional work includes new parking, storm water detention system, an outdoor playground and Farm to School garden area.

Located in an established residential neighborhood, the Oakhurst addition was designed with the surrounding community in mind. The addition is compatible with the scale of the surrounding residential neighborhood.

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Master Planning

SSOE was selected by the City of Decatur to provide design services for renovations and additions to the Decatur Public Works Facility. Two adjacent properties will be master planned to provide expanded space for the various public works departments, as well as consolidating two other city departments: City Schools of Decatur facilities and grounds maintenance; and the planning, zoning and engineering departments.

Schematic Design

We are providing architectural, engineering, and interior design services including site analysis and schematic design, design development, construction documents, and bid assistance. The existing 15,000 SF facility will be completely renovated with all new systems, finishes, furniture, and equipment, and will include an additional 15,000 SF of new construction.

Facade Enhancements

The city also purchased two adjacent parcels for additional space to be used for maintenance equipment storage. The design contemplates a new exterior facade compatible with the evolving, mixed-use neighborhood. The project incorporates the City of Decatur design guidelines for streetscape and pedestrian street enhancements. The new facility is now LEED certified.

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New Home of Georgia’s Judicial Branch

The State of Georgia’s Nathan Deal Judicial Center is the first state-building in the history of Georgia devoted entirely to the judiciary. The seven-story, 224,500 SF facility houses the Supreme Court of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the newly created state-wide Business Court. This significant facility was designed to complement the State Capitol Building (Edbrooke and Burnham built circa 1889) and expand the Capitol Hill District across from Capitol Avenue. SSOE partnered with Robert A.M. Stern Architects to design a facility in the classical architectural approach that symbolizes the dignity of the courts from the beginnings of the republic.

State Leadership

The placement and orientation of the building is directly on axis with the dome of the State Capitol Building and the curved façade responds to the prominent Capital Avenue, Memorial Drive, and 1-20, I-75 / 85 intersections. Like the Capitol’s Legislative Chamber, the building features a central atrium that is elliptical, 112-feet in height, and connects six floors. The Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Courtrooms open onto the atrium that also provides stunning views of Capitol Hill and Downtown Atlanta and beyond.

SSOE worked in partnership with the courts, the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC), the Georgia Building Authority, and the Georgia State Properties Office from programming and planning, site selection, design, and construction over 10 years to complete this historic commission. Employing energy-efficient HVAC systems, LED lighting, water-saving devices, and Georgia-sourced materials including granite and marble, the facility is one of few in Georgia to achieve a three out of four Peaches in the Georgia Peach Green Building Rating System.

“This is a magnificent architectural achievement that should evoke pride in the entire state … it embodies the ideals of our courts, as well as Governor [Nathan] Deal’s deeply personal commitment to criminal justice reform and to this great state.”

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court, at Nathan Deal Judicial Center Dedication Ceremony

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The Spartanburg County Courthouse was designed by SSOE beginning in 2018, in coordination with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architects and other consultants for judicial programming, landscape and site design, and structural engineering. The building, which completed construction at the end of 2023, is approximately 340,000 SF and contain 16 courtrooms that serve the Circuit, Family, Probate, and Magistrate Courts of the County. In addition, area is provided for the many Clerk of Court operations; Sheriff security and holding spaces; office space for the Solicitor, Public Defender, Probation & Parole, Juvenile Justice, and Guardian ad Litem; and other ancillary support components.

The new courthouse was constructed on the same site as the existing Judicial Center, which remained operational throughout the construction process. When the new building construction is occupied, the existing courthouse will be demolished and the sitework will be completed. A secure judicial parking area for approximately 30 vehicles was provided. An adjacent parking garage for public and staff parking was designed and constructed and includes 600 parking spaces.

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New School Featuring District’s Innovative Programming Standards

The King Springs Elementary School is a 67 Instructional Unit replacement school that is located on the same site as the former school. The program is based on Cobb County Schools’ standards and includes Pre-K, Kindergarten, Primary (Grades 1-3), and Intermediate (Grades 4-5) classrooms, as well as a Media Center (Learning Commons Area), cafeteria/kitchen, gymnasium, and art and music programs.

Reducing the Footprint to Work with Existing Site  

Due to the limited area of the existing campus, the new design is configured with a three-level main classroom element that both reduces the footprint as well as works with the existing site topography. Site amenities include two play areas as well as a separate play field, separate parent and bus parking, and queuing areas.

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Historic Rehabilitation

The project is a historic rehabilitation of the Charleston Cigar Factory, a Victorian industrial building built circa 1882 as the Charleston Cotton Mills. In 1903, the plant was leased to the American Cigar Company which operated the factory until 1973.

Mixed-Use Redevelopment

The scope of the project was to rehabilitate the existing 230,000 SF building into a mixed-use development including 50,000 SF of retail restaurant and event spaces, and 180,000 SF of authentic loft office space.

Restoring Appearance

Preservation and rehabilitation efforts focus on restoring the look of the building to its historic appearance while adapting the interior to contemporary usage. This includes the demolition of several large modern additions, removal of brick-infilled windows and inappropriate glazing, restoration of original windows surrounds, and new energy-conserving operable windows that replicate historic construction. At ground level, a retail promenade will invite public interaction with this revitalized Charleston icon.

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SSOE was selected to provide architectural and engineering design for the Sandusky County Courthouse’s interior renovation project. With the main part of the building dating back to 1844 and an expansion in the 1930’s, the courthouse’s interior was in need of significant modernization. Mindful of the building’s original Grecian design, SSOE was able to complement its 19th century style, while giving it 21st century functionality.

The age of the facility provided many obstacles that had to be overcome to ensure the design was feasible with the building’s current architecture and the schedule could be realized. The courthouse’s architectural improvements included ADA upgrades, enhancements to both public and staff areas, and department layout improvements to provide increased efficiency—marrying contemporary and traditional finishes throughout for a uniform appearance. Project savings were realized by preserving existing corridor marble walls with the removal of 100+ years of build-up.

The courthouse’s technology and security systems received a complete overhaul as well, which included installing a single point of entry with metal detectors, securing all remaining access doors with card reader access control. A complete lock down security system was installed with alert buttons placed in each department for use as needed. By better defining public and staff areas, we were able to improve workflow from one department to the next. Most importantly, employee safety was significantly enhanced through the security and mass notification measures put in place by SSOE’s data / fire / security experts.

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New Courthouse Facility

SSOE, in association with Justice Planning Associates and Goforth-Brown & Associates, was selected to design the new Florence County Judicial Center. Located directly across the street from the existing County Administration Building, the building features seven state-of-the-art courtrooms, a large jury assembly area, and designated public and private areas.

Three-Story Lobby & Landscaped Plaza

The spacious entry plaza and landscaped courtyard, reminiscent of a historic courthouse square, welcomes staff and visitors as they enter the facility.

Emphasis On Security

Special consideration is given to separating public traffic from a more restricted security zone, while a judges parking area is now separated from the general public. The three-story structure delineates the different functions of the county’s court system. Various support areas are easily expanded to accommodate two additional courtrooms in the future.

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Prominent Space

In support of Lanier Technical College’s mission to serve as the foremost workforce development resource in northeast Georgia the new Ramsey Conference Center fosters community engagement, enhances the student life experience on campus, and houses the Hospitality Services and Culinary Arts educational programs. The Conference Center is intended to provide much-needed exposition, conferencing, meeting, and performance space for the regional community.

Utilizing a prominent location on campus the highly efficient facility commands spectacular views of the campus, the adjacent Ramsey Lake, and surrounding foothills of the north Gainesville area. Great care was taken to align building entrances, outdoor terraces, and windows to take advantage of these views.

Venue Highlights

The building layout includes the campus bookstore accessible to students, faculty, staff, and the visiting public. The primary meeting venue is a large ballroom that is sub-dividable into up to eight (8) smaller meeting rooms. This room can support banquets of over 740 seats or lectures of up to 920 seats and is serviceable by a perimeter service corridor linking the room directly to storage, support, and the catering kitchen. Culinary Arts is supported by a large culinary arts lab and adjacent catering kitchen. The facility also includes two class / breakout rooms, a large lounge with outdoor terrace, large lobby and pre-function spaces, and a hospitality management office suite.

Pond (prime design professional), in association with SSOE, was selected to provide professional design services for the college’s new Gainesville campus. SSOE supported the overall design team by leading the Programming effort for the entire campus, leading the interior design and furnishing, fixture, and equipment (FF&E) efforts for the entire campus, and providing overall design team project management. SSOE also provided full architecture and engineering design services as Architect of Record for the Breeden-Giles Hall Administration Building, the Chris Riley Instructional Building, and the Wilbur and Dixie Ramsey Conference Center.

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Originally built in 1913, Jesup W. Scott High School has endured to become an icon in the City of Toledo’s Historical West End District. The SSOE led renovation ensured preservation
of the historic landmark in the Old West End of Toledo, giving the facility a face-lift and adding modern technology to create a modern school in a timeless structure.

The renovation of the facility re-used much of the demolished material from the project, including the quarry-tile flooring. New electrical and mechanical systems, lighting schemes, and low-flow plumbing add to the energy management system providing extra cost savings. Installation of new replacement windows were installed to match the historical aesthetic of the facility. The exterior of the facility was updated with a white reflective roof and the terra cotta stone was cleaned, preserving the early 20th century look.

The renovation not only protects the school’s historical presence and restored to its original grandeur, but also updates the institution for today’s students. This project received a design award from AIA Toledo for the renovation of the Jesup W. Scott High School.

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New Arts & Cultural Center

SSOE was selected by the City of Lawrenceville, Georgia to design a new arts and cultural center located in the heart of the city’s Historic Downtown District. The new performing arts venue will feature a contemporary yet respectful design and will include a new state-of-the-art 500-seat mainstage theatre, Cabaret theatre, office suites, and dedicated educational spaces for classes and practice.

Dynamic Location

The new center will connect to the city’s existing Aurora Theatre, which is currently located off Pike, Clayton, and Crogran Streets. Entrance into this new facility will open onto Clayton Street and will be located directly across from the city’s Historic Gwinnett County Courthouse grounds. Upon completion, the new 500-seat mainstage will host one of the largest performing arts stage in the state of Georgia.

Growing Economic Impact

In recent years, the Aurora Theatre has been praised for its growing regional economic impact. Receiving regional, local, and national awards, the Aurora Theatre has become the second largest professional performing arts theatre in the State of Georgia.

A Note From Mrs. Judy Jordan Johnson, City Of Lawrenceville Mayor

“This exciting project continues the dynamic transformation of the Downtown area. Lawrenceville is the heart of Gwinnett and maintains a central area rich with activity for all…This [new] facility will bring the Arts community together with educational opportunities and all the other amenities that our vibrant community has to offer to create a dynamic core for Gwinnett County…We are thrilled to play the role of a lifetime in the future of our community alongside the City of Lawrenceville and Gwinnett County.”

The expansion of the Aurora Theatre, located in downtown Lawrenceville’s Historic District, will include a new 500-seat mainstage theatre, office suites, and educational / rehearsal spaces. The project also includes classroom space for Georgia Gwinnett College’s Music & Theatre studies.

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Designing For Two Separate Additions

SSOE was selected to design and develop Harrison High School’s Gym and Performing Arts Center in Cobb County School District. The project includes two separate additions; a 750-seat performing arts theater and a 3,000 seat competition gymnasium, in addition to several re-configurations of existing interior spaces, a new parking lot, new bus staging lot, and relocated tennis courts all on a challenging high school campus.

Strategic Configuration Of Space

Strategic planning of the existing configuration resulted in a layout that provided direct and contiguous access to the new program spaces. Effective use of the existing topography allowed the two-level gym to be situated so that access to the seats is on the upper level, with the court level below, with on-grade egress. Interior renovations included re-configuring the existing theater into a Black Box theater, broadcast video suite, multi-purpose music space, and connecting corridor to the new PAC addition.

 

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Catalyst For Revitalization

Beyond answering overdue programmatic needs for the County, the new Judicial Center has become a catalyst for revitalization of the city’s downtown core. By transforming a vacant parking lot into the County’s new Center for Justice, our design team was able to create a beautiful, hardscaped entry portico along North Harvin Street.

Addressing Site Challenges

Additionally, a linear park was created, which spans the setback area from East Calhoun Street southward toward East Hampton Street. Required site circulation concerns were placed well away from the public side of the courthouse. All service vehicles and courthouse traffic now share a driveway toward the northeast corner of the facility, while a small restricted parking lot was created for the judges.

Traditional Elements

Based on traditional architectural elements, the new courthouse features four courtrooms, Clerk of Court, Sheriff’s holding area, judges’ chambers, jury deliberation rooms, public areas, and security core.

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Facility Assessment Services

SSOE provided assessment services for the Department of Natural Resources to determine existing conditions and future facility upgrades at numerous lodges throughout the state. We provided complete architecture, engineering, and interior design services for the renovation to Unicoi State Park.

Interior And Exterior Renovations

Based on our initial Condition Assessment Study, renovations included entrance modifications and interior and exterior renovations to the Lodge, Conference Center, and Guest Room facilities. Landscape and hardscape improvements were also completed.

Outdoor Recreation

Unicoi State Park has a rich history, starting out as an experimental outdoor recreation research area. Its initial purpose was to study the relationship between man and the material world.

Unicoi Lodge, the flagship of all state park lodges in Georgia, is the first of several lodge renovations to occur at state parks throughout the area over the next three to five years.

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Designing For The Future

York County recently constructed a new County Administration Building at the corner of South Congaree Street and West Jefferson Street. As a part of the project, the existing one-story Ag Building, which housed several county government departments, was demolished. The new site now offers the County the opportunity to consolidate most of the office space needed for day-to-day operations including internal space for future expansion. The programmatic needs called for 80,000-square feet of area. Considering the site, the solution is a four-story building of 20,000 square feet per floor.

Matching The Historic Fabric Of The Area

The new structure takes several design clues from the existing historic Courthouse. The government center is set back from South Congress to align with the Courthouse. A generous green space is uninterrupted for the entire block. Most of the existing trees remain and were supplemented by new plantings. Due to unusual topography, the scale of the new building is seen as a three-story structure along South Congress Street. The height is consistent with neighboring buildings in the area (the Courthouse and those across the street). As the grade drops to the rear of the site, the lowest level is exposed to become a four-story façade.

Creating A Traditional Exterior

The composition of the exterior is traditional in nature and has a cast stone base, brick mid-section, and topped with a cast stone cornice. A hipped roof hides the rooftop mechanical equipment, while the colors, textures, and scale are complementary to the town’s historic Courthouse. Further site development included the re-design and expansion of the parking lot. A garden wall hides the cars from South Congress as well as the addition of trees and landscaping. A secondary lot is also located at the rear of the site. The low portion of the site accommodates site drainage and is treated as an attractive feature.

The new York County Government Center is an 80,000 square foot County Administration Building located at the corner of South Congaree Street and West Jefferson Street across from the existing historic courthouse.

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Historical Integrity

SSOE worked with state officials to renovate the historic South Carolina State House. Intermittently constructed over a period of 50 years and renovated numerous times since its completion, SSOE successfully developed a design strategy that would protect the historical integrity of the building by restoring several areas obscured by prior renovations.

Adapting Existing Drawings

Where current needs demanded further modifications to the structure, unifying elements were created by adapting existing details pulled from archived drawings and newly developed site plans completed by the design team.

In order to address concerns surrounding the building’s current requirements for life safety, the restoration also involved replacing all mechanical, electrical, and fire protection systems with top-tier, state-of-the-art designs, while also incorporating all required codes, ADA, seismic (which involved the creation of a base isolation system – the first of its kind east of the Mississippi), and fresh air requirements. Additionally, interior finishes were upgraded to reflect the history and overall brand essence of the State of South Carolina.

“Must-See” Architecture

Hailed as one of the state’s most iconic structures, this 150 year old landmark, is a cultural “must-see” and features key renovations of the Senate and House chambers and gallery, main lobby, legislative meeting room, library mezzanine, Governor’s and Lt. Governor’s office and staff areas, legislative council room and press office.

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Prestigious New Courthouse

Based on the exterior vernacular of renowned courthouse architect Robert Mills, SSOE, in association with Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott, designed Richland County’s prestigious new federal courthouse.

Spacious Central Lobby

Featuring a central lobby anchored by a rotunda, the courts surround this public axis creating a striking space, while the large, open public lobbies provide circulation areas outside the district and magistrate judge courtrooms.

 

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Traditional Elements

This 100,000 square foot courthouse is located in the heart of  Lancaster  County’s downtown Historic District. Influenced by the architectural style of famed architect Robert Mills, the building was designed using traditional elements that were incorporated throughout the body of the development.

Security Emphasis

Asked to maintain a reasonable scale to the county’s existing courthouse, the entry pavilion was highlighted with its own gable roof form, creating a more traditional entry façade. Additionally, a two-story glass curtain-wall opens up to green spaces outside while the building’s interior spaces were arranged with emphasis placed on security.

Historical Building

The Lancaster  County Courthouse features six courtrooms, Clerk of Court, Probate Court, Sheriff’s holding area, jury assembly and deliberation rooms and judge’s chambers.

A Note From Steve Willis, County Administrator

“We were very pleased with the progress of the new courthouse. The design process went smoothly and SSOE kept us in the loop regarding all aspects of design. The communication of the design-build team to the Owner was, in one word, exemplary.”

 

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The project’s program was to solve access and security issues for a multi-building county courthouse complex. The site consisted of three existing buildings facing an exterior plaza. Two of the existing buildings, the county courthouse and old jail facility, both were constructed in the late 19th century of Ohio-quarried rock-faced Berea sandstone. The third building was constructed in the early 1970s of precast concrete panels. The solution required connecting the three buildings with an addition that would create an enclosed complex for approximately 500 people.

Functionally, the new addition needed to create a primary public entrance that clarified internal circulation and way-finding to all the county departments. The addition also needed to satisfy court security required by The Ohio Supreme Court. Aesthetically, the addition needed to complement the existing buildings.

Early in the design process, it was determined the addition should provide a transition between the architectural styles of the existing buildings. A pallet of materials was chosen that mirrors the original building materials. The introduction of the Berea sandstone, clay tile roofing, and natural concrete provides that transition of style to complement the entire complex. Minimized connections to the existing buildings permit them to stand on their own. The glass and skylights provide views to the architectural details of the past.

A relocated fountain from the 1970s serves as a focal point at the new entry plaza to the complex. The materials are introduced on the plaza and continue to the interior of the addition to reinforce the connective function of the addition. This new complex entrance does not compete with the primary facade and entrance of the courthouse. The design of the addition also permits the entire complex to be secured with only one entry point, satisfying the requirement of the Ohio Supreme Court.

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Significant Gathering Place

SSOE was selected by the Georgia Building Authority to create a new outdoor civic space expanding the Capitol Hill grounds and to provide  the public a new place of demonstration or celebration. Known as Liberty Plaza, this significant public gathering space has the State Capitol Building and other State Government Buildings as its backdrop and includes installations of relocated public art promoting Georgia’s rich history.

Complementary Accents

The plaza is supported by securable ornamental fencing, robust security monitoring, and state-of-the-art irrigation systems. It utilizes a native Georgia plant palette and Georgia granites in promotion of state resources, with colors and textures selected to work in concert with the State Capitol Building.

Facilitating Access

To create this civic plaza SSOE provided full design services along with Hughes Good O’Leary Ryan as the team’s landscape architect. The scope of work included the demolition of an existing circa 1954 parking deck, the creation of the open plaza, sidewalks and street trees, and an ADA accessible ramp to connect the new plaza to the existing adjacent overhead pedestrian bridge. Plaza entrances are designed with large public crowds in mind facilitating access from the city’s rapid rail and public parking, and is supported by a new small bus stop on Capitol Avenue just south of the plaza.

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Encompass Health commissioned SSOE to develop a design to replace the 50+ year old 96-bed rehabilitation hospital located in Toms River, New Jersey. Encompass Health wanted to keep the new facility in the same area as the existing hospital, however, there was no land available to design and construct a completely new replacement hospital nearby. As a result, SSOE developed a plan to replace the hospital on the existing campus, through renovation and additions.

The new hospital has 98 rehabilitation beds with approximately 53,141 SF of new construction and 32,600 SF of renovation. The design / construction documents were developed to allow the hospital to remain fully functional and to continue serving patients during the construction of the new hospital.

The project was built in four phases. Each phase required approximately nine to 10 months to complete. Phase I was completed and opened in November of 2017. Phase II was completed in June 2020. Estimated total construction cost for all phases of this project is $27 million.

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A New Headquarters

The Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) constructed a new Headquarters Building on their existing property at 201 Pryor Street. The facility includes a new office building, the renovation of the existing headquarters building (originally built in the early 1900s and expanded in 1987), a new 150-space parking deck, and the creation of outdoor courtyard / collaboration spaces. The new facility faces both Trinity Avenue and Pryor Street and includes a new front door located off of Pryor Street.

Four Stories High With A New Parking Deck

The building is four stories tall with a connector to the existing building with connections at two levels. The building also shares an elevator and stair with a new parking deck which replaces their existing surface parking lot and consolidates all parking needs into their facility. The building also includes an exterior fourth-floor terrace with views of the Capitol building.

Building Accents

The parking deck is five levels with connections to the building at one, four, and five that corresponds to building levels one, two, and four. The building’s façade is red modular brick with large storefront windows on the ground level with precast arched headers. On the upper levels, punched windows have architectural precast headers, sills, and bands. The two-level connector is primarily a glazed wall system with a precast base and sill. The parking deck also has a red modular brick façade facing the street with active use office storefront openings on Level 1 and aluminum framed openings on the upper parking levels.

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Engineering Design For New Business School

SSOE’s engineering team recently completed the electrical, mechanical, structural, and civil design of the University of South Carolina’s new Darla Moore School of Business. The school features a number of flexible classrooms and conference rooms, student work spaces and administrative and faculty suites.

State-Of-The-Art Features

With more than 250,000-square feet of floor space (Levels 0 – 5), building highlights also include a five-story central courtyard and enclosed garden pavilion, as well as a 500-seat auditorium.

State’s First LEED Platinum Facility

Tasked with the goal to design, construct and commission one of the state’s first LEED Platinum buildings, the new Moore School of Business is on par to achieve Net-Zero energy use, by becoming one of the first Net-Zero Energy buildings of its kind in the southeastern United States.

First Net-Zero Energy Building

SSOE worked hand-in-hand with lead architect Rafael Viñoly, the U.S. Department of Energy and Lawrence Berkeley Labs, to design a modern, yet contemporary, state-of-the-art facility capable of generating as much energy as it will consume through the used of advanced technologies.

A Note From Debbie Brumbaugh, Chief Financial Officer And Director Of Administrative Services

“The entire SSOE team provided exceptional professional support for us throughout our project and often were the main supporters of our vision when challenges arose. Their team seemed to always retain focus on our specifications, expectations, and the intended design plan and were careful to avoid “over compromising” when differences occurred. They could be relied upon to explore and solve complicated challenges in ways that were efficient and favorable for our School.”

 

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Working Together

Working in concert with the City of Sumter’s Economic Development Board, the design team provided complete architectural, engineering, and interior design services on the renovation and additions to the new, contemporary, two-story facility.

Growing Central Business District

Located in the downtown proper of Sumter’s growing Central Business District, the facility includes work and office space for the Board’s staff and Director, as well as reception and event spaces, two state-of-the-art boardrooms, and a large conference room. The new building is bounded by E. Liberty, S. Main, Caldwell, and S. Harvin Streets, with the existing building located on a neighboring site, adjacent to the proposed new space.

Sustainable Design

Renovations to the facilities existing structure houses additional event space, a complete catering kitchen, and temporary office suites for newly relocated businesses. In addition to the proposed additions and renovations, the new building features a number of sustainable design elements that include geothermal mechanical systems, creative placemaking, and pending LEED certification.

Furthering The Mission

Originally founded in 1957 by an act of the South Carolina General Assembly, the Sumter Economic Development Board began operating independently in the mid-1990s as the leading economic development organization for those residing within Sumter County. Funded through a Public-Private-Partnership that includes Sumter County Government, the City of Sumter, and the Sumter Smarter Growth Initiative, the Board’s new building will help further the organization’s mission to increase jobs and capital investment coming into the area.

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