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SSOE is providing design and engineering services for constructing a new greenfield solar cell manufacturing facility for a solar client. The project, once complete, will span approximately 1 million SF and will be designed to produce 5 GW of solar cell manufacturing per year.

Our team supported the client throughout the site selection and acquisition process, preparing a site due diligence report analyzing environmental, utility, zoning, site development, and permitting constraints. Our services also included master planning and early site development plans, including mass grading and stormwater management plans and specifications.

As part of the project, SSOE has worked closely with a Chinese Design Institute to assist in localizing the client’s technology used overseas to ensure compliance with all U.S. codes and standards. This involved extensive evaluation of the design basis, hazardous chemical usages and storage volumes, egress requirements, and modular construction methodologies. In this analysis, SSOE was able to optimize the facility layout to suit a uniform structural layout, fostering a modular concept for the cleanroom space of the production building.

Additionally, SSOE spent the early stages of the Schematic Design focusing on the most critical and highest value systems within the design. Through discrete analyses of the cleanroom classification, water purification, recycling, wastewater strategy, and process utilities, our team refined these concepts to provide more cost certainty to the client and the contracting community.

Our team also concentrated design efforts on critical path items, such as early earthwork packages, preliminary structural design including steel mill orders, and major facility equipment specifications to facilitate early procurement for long-lead items. As such, SSOE and the client have maintained the overall project schedule and the anticipated start of production timelines.

Construction on the project is expected to begin later this year with production beginning at the end of 2026.

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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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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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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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Discovery Life Sciences (DLS) hired SSOE for the laboratory programming and planning for a new building to be located at their Huntsville, Alabama discovery center. DLS was looking to consolidate multiple laboratories under one roof to increase efficiency and modernize their laboratory spaces.

SSOE’s planning expert collaborated with the client user groups to create a program and optimized program customized to fit their unique needs. Working alongside the eight different laboratory user groups, the SSOE team generated a program that included space for a planned 25 percent growth across each of DLS’s business units.

After right-sizing DLS’s program, SSOE’s planning team created adjacency diagrams and blocking diagrams to plan out where different business units needed to be located within the building. One area that necessitated special consideration was the bio-repository, which needed to be centrally located within the building due to the potential risk of damage from natural disasters.

SSOE generated a program that consisted of just over 90,000 SF, utilizing a modular planning concept to allow future flexibility and adaptability. Laboratory spaces include wet research labs, a cleanroom, a BSL-3 laboratory, and genomics spaces.

The project’s flexibility and adaptability were tested when the genomics program director changed just as our team was finalizing construction documents. We swiftly pivoted, transforming the genomics space from an open lab into three separate labs, complete with anterooms and pass-throughs to accommodate the product

The genomics sequencing rooms house 30 sequencers, each of which emits a significant amount of heat. To address this, our team meticulously planned the space, incorporating specialized cooling and exhaust systems. These systems are connected to emergency power, ensuring that there will be no interruption to services in the event of a power outage.

Additional spaces include a cell services and processing lab, infectious disease, proteomics lab, donor center, immunohistochemistry services lab, histology, pathology lab, specialized biorepository for tissue samples in freezers, paraffin and slide-based samples, and shipping and receiving logistics room.

SSOE worked with the DLS to select the laboratory equipment and coordinated with equipment suppliers to ensure the required infrastructure was integrated to support the selected equipment. This project led to subsequent initiatives with DLS that persist to this day.

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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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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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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 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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Traditional Courthouse Located At The Center Of A Historic Town

Nestled in the heart of historic downtown Gallatin, Tennessee, the Sumner County Courthouse is a testament to timeless design and modern functionality.

The courthouse site features a unique slope from front to back, ingeniously utilized to create distinct public, restricted, and highly secure zones. This thoughtful design ensures seamless operations and enhanced security.

This impressive 5-story building, with one floor reserved for future expansion, will house the Circuit and Chancery Courts, as well as the Criminal and General Sessions Courts. The architectural design harmoniously blends traditional elements with contemporary needs, ensuring the new structure fits perfectly into the historic fabric of Gallatin.

The courthouse’s exterior showcases a classic palette of brick, cast stone, and glass. A striking Palladian window graces the center bay, flooding the upper floors with natural light. The two-story entry pavilion offers ample space for queuing before the security checkpoint, enhancing the visitor experience.

A spacious entry plaza welcomes visitors and integrates the courthouse seamlessly into the Main Street setting. This project is a proud collaboration between SSOE, in collaboration with ESA Architects, combining expertise and vision to create a landmark for Tennessee’s judicial system.

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Developing A Campus Master Plan

Faced with growing challenges pertaining to circulation and architectural identity, SSOE worked with School District Five of Lexington / Richland Counties to develop a campus master plan for Irmo High School that would artfully address concerns regarding contrasting architectural styles, school identity, and on-site circulation.

Addressing On-Site Circulation

By revamping on-site circulation and creating a clear delineation between vehicular and pedestrian traffic, our design team proposed an increase in on-site vehicle stacking in order to alleviate traffic backing up onto St. Andrews Road, the main thoroughfare onto campus.

Visually & Physically Reconnecting The Campus

By incorporating a number of new plazas and canopies in front of the existing academic buildings, C.A.T.E. facilities and proposed new auditorium, the design team was able to visually and physically re-connect the campus.

SSOE worked with School District Five of Lexington / Richland Counties to define a new architectural identity for Irmo High School.

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Creating A Contemporary New Building

SSOE was selected to provide a campus evaluation, and building and interior design for McKenney’s Mechanical Contractors’ existing site.

The existing building was a 1960s office warehouse building that had been added onto over the years as the size of the company grew. During that time, a more contemporary three-story building was built to the east, while both buildings were connected to the existing large shop building to the north.

Creating A Better Work Environment

The goal was to renovate the existing building to create a campus feel alongside the pre-existing three-story building and adjacent shop building. In addition, the design team was tasked with bringing the building up to code, as the work previously completed spanned a number of years. Lastly, and most importantly, the company knew they needed to change their work environment to hire and retain great people in order to better address the needs of a changing workforce.

The desire was for the building to be more open, with views to the exterior from all work areas, while storage and support areas moved to the center of the building. The team successfully addressed this by removing several of the exterior tilt-up concrete panels in order to open the building to the exterior while taking advantage of several existing skylights that opened the building between floors.

Encouraging Collaboration

Working closely with the Owner to select sit / stand units for all employees, each of the new collaboration areas, as well as the open break spaces, are only a few of the examples of space planning, and furniture selections that the team provided. The challenge in many of these areas was the low floor-to-floor heights available. In order to address these specific challenges, the SSOE team created an open environment by eliminating ceilings and using light to create a feeling of height.

The lobby was resized to provide a comfortable space for groups that travel to the building for training. The number and location of meeting rooms was an important consideration, as was the number of enclosed offices, which were reduced and located so as not to block any daylight access. An executive suite with a new board room was established in an area that would provide a high ceiling for a spacious feel.

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Introducing A New Model Of Care

SSOE, in conjunction with Ernest Bland Associates, P.C., completed design documents for two state-of-the-art 104-bed Veterans Nursing Facilities.

A major objective of the design was to develop an environment for the veterans that resembles a home. Each resident will have a private bedroom with an adjacent private bath. Additionally, each facility will allow members freedom of choice in their activities and routines which may include clinical, therapeutic, extracurricular, and spiritual activities that support the daily needs of Veterans. The environments are focused on the resident as the center of care, thereby enhancing the quality of life and dignity of those residing in the facilities.

A Unique Organizing Design Element

Single-loaded concourses and corridors facing landscaped courtyards are utilized as an organizing design element to maximize direct visual and physical connections to outdoor areas and assist with wayfinding. A broad concourse (“hall”) connects the main entrance to a central lounge and a generous “back porch” seating area facing the main courtyard. This central hall has ample natural light from clerestory windows above.

Building Features & Amenities

Each facility is approximately 142,000 SF, designed as a single-story facility organized around a series of courtyards. These courtyards are surrounded by a central community building and four adjacent neighborhood buildings. Each neighborhood houses two resident homes consisting of 13 private patient rooms with shared living and dining spaces. The community center is approximately 34,000SSF and houses common “gathering” and activity spaces, such as a “bistro,” large group room, activity room, chapel, physical / occupational therapy, and clinical spaces for therapeutic functions and staff / administrative spaces.

A Note From Robby Aull, Principal – Senior Vice President

“By striving to make these buildings feel like real homes, we will create environments that go far beyond the public’s perception of what a traditional nursing home is. These new homes will be welcoming and healing spaces that will enhance the overall quality of life for our veterans.”

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Continuing our partnership with the Anthony Wayne Local Schools district, SSOE transformed the priorities established during the master planning phase into design solutions across the district’s four campuses. The main campus, which includes Anthony Wayne High School, Anthony Wayne Junior High School, and Fallen Timbers Middle School, received overall facility improvements, upgraded security vestibules and visitor entries, a new high school office addition to make room for three new science rooms, and a media center addition at the junior high. The new high school auxiliary gym and cafeteria addition are adjacent to a new commons area that incorporates storefront windows that allow interior access to daylight. This space will be used by students daily as well as for public events.

The elementary schools also received upgrades. Monclova Elementary School received a new security vestibule and office addition, classroom modifications, and infrastructure improvements for energy efficiency. Waterville Elementary School upgrades included a new security vestibule / office renovation, new four-classroom addition for kindergarten students, and renovation of the daycare program’s office space. Whitehouse Elementary School received a new 70,000 SF facility on the same site as the existing elementary school. The architectural design included repurposing stone elements from the original building into the new facility to carry forward the community’s history. This facility also includes a storm shelter and new playground.

All upgrades focused on student and staff safety, including the site designs, which were updated for bus circulation, parent / visitor and student parking, and parent drop-off to reduce congestion and increase student safety. SSOE also worked closely with the district’s operations personnel to increase energy efficiency with the improvements.

Classroom designs included learning communities, active learning spaces with grade-specific media materials and collaborative areas for teachers and students. The science labs were designed and laid out for 21st-century teaching and learning. Existing education spaces were updated with new technology, and traditional classrooms were opened up into multipurpose student-centered learning spaces.

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SSOE was selected to provide planning, design, and owner representative services to GEDIA Automotive Group for their new advanced manufacturing facility in Dalton, Georgia, with operations expected to begin in the third quarter of 2021.

In the Dalton plant, GEDIA will produce lightweight body-in-white automotive parts and assemblies, as well as chassis components using state-of-the-art press hardening, tempering, and automated welding processes, to produce parts for electric vehicles. The German company manufactures parts for Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes vehicles and currently has one operating U.S. plant in Michigan.

GEDIA selected design / build as the project delivery method for this 185,000 SF greenfield facility. SSOE’s scope includes providing an early grading package, master plan and comprehensive bridging documents, assistance to GEDIA in the design / build contractor selection, construction administration, and on-site owner’s representative services. SSOE disciplines involved in the project include project management, architectural, civil, electrical, fire protection, mechanical, and structural.

The construction timing was essential to the process equipment installation. Per an agreement between GEDIA and the general contractor, SSOE was selected to develop the final construction documents for the entire manufacturing facility project.

With GEDIA, SSOE is supporting yet another European-based client expansion in North America, specifically to the ever-growing Southeast region where SSOE has a local presence and expert resources.

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SSOE served as the planning consultant to FGM Architects for Phases 1, 2, and 3 for this comprehensive transportation, distribution, and logistics center for a higher education facility. The project is part of the City Colleges of Chicago “College to Careers” initiative, which works to revolutionize city colleges to meet the demand of the high-growth sectors of the future. The facility will serve as the first comprehensive Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL) education in its area, preparing students for careers in ground, air, and rail transport, as well as multi-modal distribution and logistics.

The new center will feature a high-tech warehouse environment, laboratories, workshops, classrooms, and virtual reality simulation facilities and will replace nearly 112,000 SF of temporary classroom space. The building is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification upon completion for its sustainable features.

The project is being administered by the Capital Development Board and completed as funding becomes available. SSOE is serving as the planning consultant related to transportation maintenance shop areas and the equipment in the shop areas.

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Open technology infrastructure accommodates next generation training needs emphasizing the importance of flexibility and creating a powerful link between education and employers.

As the Executive Architect for the Mott Community College campus, SSOE has provided various design and engineering services for the campus facilities, including new construction, strategic land development, building renovations and additions, HVAC systems design, boiler replacements, building investigations, capital outlay reports, parking lot studies, asbestos abatement, and a campus master plan for over ten years. We have completed more than 40 projects on the Mott Community College campus, including the nursing and applied health laboratories.

The Curtice Mott building, one of the most impressive facilities on the campus, is most recently completed. It houses the simulation laboratories, practice rooms, and classrooms for Nursing and Applied Health Sciences students.

SSOE’s responsibilities included coordination of the technology and distance learning that made it possible for students to work with SimMan: A cutting-edge, high-tech manikin that exhibits realistic blood pressure, heart and lung sounds, breathes, moans, and speaks. Under instructor guidance, the new technology, and the SimMan allows students to witness and respond in real-time to a variety of patient clinical situations, including cardiac arrest. The students, via the coordinated technology, can interact hands-on in a patient room setting or can view and answer professor questions from a classroom while witnessing procedures via flat screen televisions and video networking. The simulation set-up also included individual control and head wall units along each bedside station, complete with vacuum and oxygen compressors.

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American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) turned to their strategic global alliance partner, SSOE to develop the conceptual design for a new state-of-the-art European Headquarters and Technical Center (EHQ). The EHQ serves to consolidate two existing AAM facilities formerly located in Bad Homburg and Dieburg, both in Germany, so employees can freely interact with each other with the goal of facilitating intensified idea generation, innovation, and product development.

The new facility includes spaces for product development and testing, labs, product display, corporate and engineering offices, cafeteria, and office support—accommodating for future expansion with shell spaces within the technical center. SSOE’s conceptual design scope included site and architectural plans, sections, elevations, and 3D images for the new facility as well as flow diagrams and conceptual design narrative for the building engineering systems. SSOE collaboratively engaged with AAM during the programming phase to understand current and future needs for the space as well as considerations related to individual workspaces for adjacencies, access, and resource sharing. Incorporating AAM’s standards for interior selections, our team helped locate all furniture and fixtures within the building, providing photorealistic interior renderings to present AAM with a clear visualization of the space.

AAM’s new EHQ reflects the company’s brand while integrating European culture through furniture selections, material selection, and use of natural light. As a focal point, the lobby entrance for visitors will serve as the public introduction—an impressive expanse of curtain wall and metal panel with accents of precast concrete and an entry vestibule with a custom canopy—connecting the office wings and technical center.

SSOE is not only responsible for conceptual design but also provided the permit design package and re-zoning to take the site from agricultural to commercial use with in-country consultant, Scalaplan GmbH, as well as approval of final design and on-site construction management services.

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SSOE was chosen from a field of other qualified candidates to lead the site selection process for Polaris’ new production facility—nicknamed “Project Axle”—a more than $125 million investment for the premier manufacturer of off-road vehicles. The firm had a broad spectrum of criteria to identify, an RFP to create and responses to evaluate, and cost models to develop. To start, SSOE created a grid listing requirements for the site, the surrounding area, and other relevant issues including the quality of life, utility costs, availability of qualified work force, and dozens more. The process would entail comparing one set of advantages to another. For example, Polaris preferred this plant be located in a right-to-work state, but needed to balance that against a logistical drawback: most of its suppliers are located in northern states.

Polaris desired to be very inclusive in its search, therefore, the site selection RFP was sent to 14 states—union as well as right-to-work states—and proposals were received for 150 sites. After responses were evaluated, the short list totaled eight sites in four states. Once these locations were visited, SSOE was able to narrow the contenders to three sites, each in a different state. Once these contenders were identified, SSOE and Polaris were ready to begin incentive negotiations.

Among the advantages that put the Huntsville, Alabama site on top was its proximity to the interstate and Huntsville International Airport, acreage available for further expansions, good soil conditions, lack of environmental issues, sufficient access to utilities, availability of skilled labor, and a highly professional team of local and state government officials. SSOE also provided civil design engineering services for the new facility, which is expected to generate up to 2,000 jobs by 2020 and create a ripple effect that will boost the area’s economy and making the project one of Alabama’s largest job-creation projects in recent years.

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SSOE worked with Youngstown State University for the creation of a living / learning R&D Excellence Training Center (ETC) that serves as an advanced manufacturing education, workforce training facility, and incubator factory. It houses a welding, machining CNC, automation and fluids training labs, high-bay workspace, metals and 3D printing, secure group project space, classrooms, and a workroom space. The ETC opened in Fall 2021 and houses approximately $5.5 million worth of advanced manufacturing equipment. The development of the ETC required the renovation of an existing building and addition to the facility on a downtown campus while maintaining project specific and ITAR security regulations.

SSOE worked with YSU faculty and staff, MVICC members, and Eastern Gateway Community College to develop detailed bid documents for repairs, renovation, and new construction. The project site is located both on the edge of YSU’s campus and in Youngstown’s downtown area. This location provides access to the varied groups that will utilize the facility including Youngstown’s downtown community. The building’s architecture takes inspiration from the existing urban context and neighboring campus buildings to create a common aesthetic statement. This project is also partially funded with an EDA Grant, for which SSOE provided the necessary documents. SSOE’s design also included provisions and concepts for future expansion(s) to the facility, as this is Phase I of a multi-Phase 100,000+ SF master plan created as part of the project’s planning and design.

Utilization of our significant manufacturing industry experience allowed our design team to lead the YSU design committee through the design process by helping them create a real-life simulated advanced manufacturing environment. We were able to utilize our knowledge of plant and process design and apply it into the manufacturing educational design, which will ultimately allow students to be completely prepared to enter real manufacturing environments upon program completion.

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Therma-Tru Doors, a Fortune Brands Company, is the nation’s leading manufacturer of fiberglass and steel exterior door systems. Fypon, who became a part of the Therma-Tru family in 2009, makes polyurethane millwork. Both companies are now headquartered in Maumee, Ohio. The Fypon and the Therma-Tru IT departments occupy the renovated first floor space.

SSOE led the original master plan design effort to create a collaborative work environment which started in 2005 with the renovation of the second floor of the facility. We continued with the master plan, bringing it to completion in March 2016, with the renovation of the first floor of the facility.

The design scheme incorporates a diagonal “avenue” of drywall soffits and luminous ceiling, which leads to an amenity area. This area provides a flexible space for social and informal meetings, with a small kitchenette located in this area that also supports the flexible function of the space. The workspaces are predominantly open office workstations with only three enclosed office spaces.

The open office concept is augmented with several informal meeting / work areas, and two larger enclosed conference rooms. The renovation design incorporates Therma-Tru doors and Fypon moldings throughout, as well as other Fortune Brands products (Master Brand Cabinets and Moen plumbing fixtures) which lends to a very comfortable, home-like working atmosphere that is enjoyed by the companies’ employees.

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Selected as the national healthcare design lead, SSOE teamed with local architectural firm, Shremshock Design Group, to revitalize the existing Memorial Hospital of Union County campus. The project goal was to create a new, state-of-the-art, high tech and multi-use campus, offering private patient rooms, upgraded clinical services, new on-campus ambulatory services, and medical office space.

The selection was based on several factors, including the strategic master planning process and design approach. Recognizing the organic quality of the process, not a predetermined approach; listening to and identifying what is important to the client; and the team’s experience in designing similar facilities were all attributes contributing to the selection of the SSOE team.

Solutions were offered based on “patient first” design and Evidence-Based Design (EBD) practices. The design process considered staff satisfaction as a way to recruit and retain top talent. In addition, lean design was employed to increase staff efficiency.

Our planners, architects, and engineers thoroughly understood the client’s objectives, aspirations, and needs. The SSOE team supported the client’s goals by understanding the latest trends and national best practices, providing market trend analysis and forecasting to assist Memorial Hospital with “right-sizing” their facility now and into the future.

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Input from programming phase was used to eliminate duplicate space requirements and reduce the building footprint by 15%. Additionally, developed method to capture and reuse energy generated during dynamometer testing process throughout the facility.

To meet the market demand for new products in China, GM built its first Chinese R&D facility in Shanghai. This facility, which is the most comprehensive and advanced automotive development center in China, included areas for advanced vehicle development, powertrain design, electrical and fuel cell design, chassis, HVAC, body, exterior and interior development, and telematics. SSOE applied its vast experience in designing automotive R&D facilities, and familiarity with the Chinese design and construction process to deliver this high caliber, sustainable project.

SSOE designed an interior hydrogen fuel cell garage space, along with an exterior hydrogen fueling station and garage space. Special considerations, including distance from nearby high rises, were made during design due to safety considerations. Fuel farms were also integrated to provide for blending and testing operations for hydrogen-based vehicles and hybrids.

A significant design feature was a central garage space that separated the building into two halves. The central garage space functions as a central spine and serves as a common use area for multiple groups. It potentially allows groups to share tooling.

Another feature was a visually secure, exterior patio for GM to view vehicles in natural sunlight. This requirement created an interesting challenge since the site was located within city limits and near a multiple story building. SSOE designed a visual screen to obstruct the view from the building while still allowing the natural sunlight to enter the space.

SSOE provided an innovative design which minimized environmental impact, while maximizing occupant safety, health, and comfort. Design criteria also emphasized the use of sustainable materials and other energy reduction features.

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By using BIM, the contractor’s GMP pricing was $500,000 under project budget with no change orders for time or cost.

SSOE provided complete planning and design services to develop a new, full service cancer center. Developed by real estate investor Welltower (formerly Health Care REIT), the freestanding facility spans two floors and is situated on a 4.9 acre site.

To offset the feel of a high technology environment, SSOE’s design features exterior and interior colors and details, which create a warm, inviting setting for patients. The first floor contains a radiation oncology suite and common area. The suite will supports future construction of three new linear accelerator vaults, a CT simulator, CT / PET simulator rooms, and related support spaces. The second floor houses a large medical oncology suite, gynecology suite, additional oncology office, and common area.

The design integrates sustainable design principles, and the facility is LEED® Silver certified. Additional green features of the property include a healing garden with a walking path.

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With careful planning and design, SSOE was able to reduce the building footprint by 20%, saving the Owner approximately $3 million.

Plans to replace this aging hospital have begun with SSOE’s design of a new healthcare campus on a nearby 38-acre greenfield site.

The campus master plan will accommodate the new hospital, skilled nursing facility, and a full range of support services—including Life Flight. SSOE incorporated a full-service, 24-hour emergency department, a medical / surgical ICU, inpatient and outpatient surgery, rehabilitation services, pastoral social services, along with all of the necessary laboratory, diagnostic, and dietary rooms, and an enhanced patient experience — all of which were major criteria in the design of this facility.

The design of both the facility’s exterior and interior satisfies all of the strategic goals outlined by the client, which include a new hospital identity, a vision of strengthening the community, design accommodations for the future, and the creation of a comprehensive healthcare campus.

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Phased construction to compress schedule by three months.

When American Snuff wanted to convert a recently purchased facility into new processing facilities, SSOE had the EPCM expertise needed to lead the project. With the goal to increase capacity and achieve FDA compliance, a new requirement for its product, SSOE proved key to renovating and expanding the site, largely due to its expertise serving FDA regulated industries and renovating brownfields.

Originally designed in the 1970s by SSOE, the site, previously operated by Union Carbide, produced large carbon electrodes for the steel industry. The brownfield site had been abandoned for eight years, making the conversion challenging. However, SSOE’s extensive cGMP and renovation experience allowed it to accommodate immediate and future manufacturing needs while transforming an idle general manufacturing environment to one that satisfies new FDA regulations for the industry.

SSOE’s scope of services included conceptual planning and budgeting, design, procurement, cost control, scheduling, monitoring and reporting, commissioning, and construction management services.

In an effort to achieve American Snuff’s ambitious schedule, SSOE recommended construction sequencing (phased construction with multiple primes) to compress the project construction schedule by three months. Aggressive cost management and early identification of cost trends put the project on track to be delivered within budget.

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When a long-established chemical client needed master planning assistance for a new solar product manufacturing facility, they called on SSOE as their trusted engineering partner. SSOE established interface points between the plant and site services and developed an overall master site plan.

Coordinating with city officials, intersection, and traffic patterns were updated to improve access to the site. These updates were then incorporated into the master plan. To improve site safety and security, a loop road design separating employee access from truck access was implemented. A design was also developed for site drainage, collection, and waste treatment. Service water and fire water loop tie-ins and completion were also included. Site based utilities (steam, water, process water, and compressed air) were integrated into project needs, by the SSOE team.

SSOE provided the design for a guard house, integrating products manufactured by the client into the aesthetics. The energy-efficient design included high sound isolation from the adjacent plant. Architectural security fences, turnstiles, and truck security gates were also included. Client-specific standards for security layers and boundaries for truck and employee plant access were supported in SSOE’s design. Electrical power distribution for the guard house incorporated the client’s manufactured solar power system. A sidewalk snow melt design was developed, including all power and control equipment. The guard house lighting design incorporated client-specific light levels. Client-specific requirements for perimeter security, loop road, parking, and truck inspection gates were integrated into the overall site lighting design.

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Saved $20 million prior to design phase by avoiding approximately 5 million cubic yards of earthwork.

SSOE was commissioned to perform the master planning and design of the Toyota plant near Tupelo, Mississippi. The new plant was originally intended to produce the Highlander vehicle. With the turn in the economy, the plant will now produce the fuel efficient Prius, one of Toyota’s most sought after models.

The design of the facility and infrastructure is configured to allow for future expansion and the utility needs for the increased production capacity. The overall project has been issued in multiple packages for site work, foundations, structural steel, and general contract work. 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.

The first phase of master planning efforts for this 1,700 acre site required more than 16 million cubic yards of earthwork. Site infrastructure was developed in conjunction with the State of Mississippi and the PUL Alliance which originally developed the area. Site utilities were not only required by the main plant, but also by the other onsite suppliers. SSOE coordinated  the overall utility requirements for Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Toyota Logistics Services, and Toyota Tsusho of America.

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Energy saving features with less than five year ROI.

To meet the market demand for new products in China, this automotive OEM built its first Chinese R&D facility in Guangzhou. SSOE’s relationship with this client extends more than 30 years and includes experience at no less than 10 of their facilities throughout the world. With robust expertise in R&D facilities and knowledge of China’s governmental standards for design and construction, SSOE was a clear choice for this project.

SSOE was selected to design an R&D facility that consolidated multiple facilities throughout Guangzhou, bringing the team together in a new location to foster more efficient internal collaboration. R&D areas included trial manufacturing, materials testing, body testing, aesthetic design, crash testing, and EMC chambers. Individual buildings were connected with access roadways separate from normal vehicle flow. The main site access was limited to one entry point in order to control entrance to the campus. The most notable design feature was an onsite high-speed test track for new product development. For the client, it was important to also build an onsite recreational facility reflective of its corporate culture. As part of the design process, SSOE interviewed individual client user groups to find out specific functions, demands, and cultural aspects.

The facility was constructed with an emphasis on use of recycled, renewable, and non-polluting materials. Though the campus had large power requirements, SSOE integrated features that provided the highest possible energy efficiency such as water conserving plumbing fixtures and strategies to reuse the power generated from processes, such as the engine dynamometers. A grey water system was incorporated to minimize overall water consumption and was used to provide the most cost effective method of supplying water for the testing processes on the test track. Such systems were designed to provide less than a five year return on the client’s investment.

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SSOE was awarded a nationwide, five-year IDIQ contract for A/E services related to master planning for over 12 million SF of the EPA’s environmental and analytical laboratory and support facilities. This included coordination with EPA program and regional offices to incorporate their missions and strategic goals into specific master plans.

SSOE has completed the following tasks for the EPA:

Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina
The RTP EPA Research and Administration Facility consists of approximately 1.4 million SF of laboratory, vivarium, office, and special use space.

SSOE has performed the following tasks at this site:

  • Facility master plan
  • Programming and planning to relocate the EPA Division now located off-site into the RTP facility
  • Energy reduction strategies
  • Evaluation of sustainability opportunities

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
SSOE completed an engineering study to provide recommendations for energy reduction strategies and HVAC improvements.

Narragansett, Rhode Island; Athens, Georgia; and Corvallis, Oregon
SSOE provided master planning services to address the renovation of the existing 40 year-old laboratory buildings, strategies to meet/exceed EPAct and EISA criteria, and a “green” strategy for restructuring the site.

Las Vegas, Nevada
SSOE developed a POR and Design Intent documents for a new two-story, 40,000 SF leased laboratory / office building. This building will house the offices and laboratories of the EPA’s Radiation and Indoor Environments National Laboratory currently located at the University of Las Vegas.

Houston, Texas
SSOE developed the POR for a new EPA Region 6 build-to-suit 10 acre campus, including a 90,000 SF laboratory building and support facilities.

Edison, New Jersey
SSOE developed a POR for a new 400,000 SF, state-of-the-art Environmental Science Center. The new facility consolidates the Edison EPA’s program into one building, replacing the aging, inadequate existing facilities.

Fort Meade, Maryland
SSOE completed a conceptual design for modifications of the EPA Environmental Science Center to allow for chemical warfare agents testing as requested by the Department of Homeland Security.

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SSOE was selected to create a master plan and design for Kemin to not only reflect the entrepreneurial spirit and corporate brand that is Kemin, but also to position the company appropriately for future projected growth. SSOE provided an overall assessment of the Kemin site to situate the new Research and Development (R&D) laboratory and future corporate headquarters in such a manner to promote oversight and engagement with the existing campus and manufacturing facilities, while also offering a formal gateway and introduction of Kemin innovation to the public.

The new R&D laboratory is designed for collaboration to promote intensive idea generation and product development. The two-story laboratory facility is organized with an emphasis on access to daylight, spatial efficiencies, and flexibility to expedite idea exchange and staff interaction. The main, general laboratory area is open and modular with specialty laboratories and related open office area located directly adjacent. Administrative offices, conference rooms, and informal meeting / break areas surround the primary laboratory function. Attached to the main laboratory are Class 1, Division 1 pilot laboratories which accommodate large-scale experiments and processes, a designated shipping and receiving area, chemical and sample storage areas, and mechanical / electrical services, including a generator.

The main entrance to the facility features an open, light-flled, two-story atrium. This common area presents visitors with a formal introduction to Kemin and will act as the central circulation hub to connect the future planned additions of a corporate administrative headquarters, 350-seat cafeteria and food service area, and an additional laboratory block.

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Designed hospital to meet program goals and saved approximately $2 million by reducing square footage by 10%, reducing to one floor, and minimizing infrastructure system lengths and material costs.

This single-story, freestanding, orthopedic, and spine specialty hospital is located on a satellite outpatient campus of the ProMedica Health System. Support spaces include those required for state licensing and program operation. This facility is ProMedica’s first all digital hospital, complete with electronic health records technology, comprehensive inpatient and outpatient diagnostic services, including CT, MRI, and general X-ray.

This project constitutes Phase II of the campus development for orthopedic services (Phase I, construction of a Medical Office Building [MOB], was completed separately). Phase II involved linking the hospital to the MOB, which houses the primary orthopedic physicians’ practice, via an enclosed, overhead pedestrian connector. Our team of BIM experts utilized 3D modeling to develop and illustrate details of the project.

Since the new hospital is a significant addition to the existing campus, coordinating site access, circulation, parking, and utilities was critical to the project’s success. To address these issues, the orthopedic facility was designed to be consistent with the existing campus master plan. Future expansion needs were considered during the site / facility planning stage, as was the hospital’s environmental impact, to which SSOE responded by incorporating LEED principles into the design.

The construction duration was approximately 15 months. Early civil and structural engineering packages were issued to expedite the construction process. To eliminate the need to fireproof the structural steel, the facility was classified as three buildings (each Type IIB construction). Each building was separated by a two-hour fire wall, with each containing two smoke compartments.

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