Volkswagen Manufacturing Facility
Chattanooga, TN
LJC, in collaboration with Clayco, is designing ENTEK’s advanced manufacturing facility, an innovative project focused on producing lithium battery separators for electric vehicles. This cutting-edge plant will support the production needs of 1.4 to 1.6 million EVs annually, aligning with the growing demand for clean energy solutions in the United States. The facility’s design prioritizes sustainability, utilizing insulated concrete panels for energy efficiency, native prairie landscaping for sustainable maintenance, and advanced production processes with a focus on reducing carbon footprints.
The site consists of six industrial buildings, each meticulously designed to house flexible manufacturing lines that can adapt to ENTEK’s evolving production needs. The linear process line spans 1,350 feet, creating a long, continuous corridor flanked by support areas. LJC designed the layout to allow for easy expansion of support systems, while public-facing areas feature employee entry points and tour corridors for showcasing the advanced technology.
One of the project’s biggest challenges was the fluid nature of ENTEK’s evolving requirements. LJC addressed this through multiple iterations of master planning and building layouts, working closely with ENTEK to ensure that the design met both current and future operational needs. The project not only supports ENTEK’s growth but also aligns with government directives to enhance domestic production of EV components, contributing to the future of battery technology in the U.S. and creating 500-600 new jobs in the Terre Haute area.
LJC’s engineering team is providing comprehensive structural and MEP engineering services for ENTEK’s multi-building lithium battery separator manufacturing campus. Scope includes foundation and structural steel design for multiple production buildings, along with building-level plumbing, mechanical, fire protection, and electrical systems engineered to support energy-intensive manufacturing operations and long, linear process layouts. The team is also providing construction-phase support and phased design coordination to accommodate future campus expansion.
INTEGRATED BY DESIGN
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