VPEC PHASE 2 – BATTERY LAB EXPANSION

As the automotive industry shifts to focus on electrification, so does Aristeo. This project supports the future of EVs through research and testing at Ford Motor Company’s Vehicle Performance and Electrification Center (VPEC) in Allen Park, MI.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Fast Facts

Location: Allen Park, MI
Market: Commercial
Sector: Research & Engineering
Delivery Method: Design Build
Self Perform Services: Earthwork, Concrete, Steel Fabrication, Steel Erection

Statistics

100,000 Manhours
85,000 SF Two-Story Addition
20-Foot-Tall Basement Foundation Walls
500 Tons of Steel Fabricated and Erected

AWARDS

Ford World Excellence Award in the Performance Category

OVERVIEW

We were the contractor partner for the original construction of this facility, which houses the most technologically advanced wind tunnel of its kind in the world, a state-of-the-art rolling road system and a variety of battery cyclers and environmental chambers to improve efficiency and vehicle performance. Thanks to our years of partnership between our project team and the customer, we recently built an 85,000 SF two-story expansion to the facility, bringing the total facility to 330,000 SF. The new expansion houses over 100 additional battery chambers to research and test electric batteries.

PROJECT SCOPE

Aristeo worked closely with the Ford team in the early stages of the expansion – starting during the construction of the original facility. VPEC was constructed with an expansion in mind, so our team got to work planning and designing well before the original building construction was finished. We installed a deep foundation wall in the original, existing building to accommodate a future basement for this expansion. We also prepared all utilities and infrastructure to handle the future addition.

SCOPE, CONT.

In addition to managing the entire project, our team self performed across five disciplines:

Our civil work included all underground storm, sanitary, excavation support for fire lead ins and electrical duct banks and excavation for basement construction.
We completed all concrete work, including basement base mat, 20-foot-tall basement foundation walls, all slab on deck and slab on grade areas, concrete paving, curb and gutter and sidewalks.
Our in-house fabrication team fabricated all the steel and our ironworkers erected it all, totaling over 500 tons of structural steel, miscellaneous steel, stairs, roof and floor decking.
Our carpentry scope included all interior metal studs, drywall, hard lid and drop ceilings, installation of all hollow metal and solid wood doors and window frames.

All of our self perform teams helped keep the challenging schedule on track by coordinating logistics and sequencing plans across the site. The project finished with no lost time incidents over 100,000 manhours. As part of our Construction Commodity Management partnership with the VPEC facility, we will remain onsite for future construction needs.

UNIQUE SOLUTIONS

Aristeo helped plan the expansion starting at the initial conceptual design. We offered key suggestions to save time, such as an alternate framing design since lead times for joists would have delayed the project’s schedule. We spearheaded and analyzed a feasibility study to validate that the space and facility could support the requirements for 100 additional battery chambers. We also coordinated construction within the active, existing facility by utilizing just-in-time deliveries and accommodating alternative parking areas and pedestrian travel routes for Ford employees.