The Detroit News: Aggressive Transformation of Fiat Chrysler Mack Plant Underway
On August 13, the first vertical structural steel column was raised on the site of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) paint shop building of the first new assembly plant in Detroit in nearly three decades. The 790,500 SF paint shop is part of a $1.6 billion transformation of the Mack Avenue Engine Complex into an assembly plant that will produce new three-row, full-size Jeep and next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs.
Ghafari is the architect and engineer of record for the design-build project, working with general contractor Barton Malow. Ghafari is also providing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering support to Giffin, the paint equipment supplier, fabricator, and installer.
Construction of the paint shop is expected to be completed in early 2020. Renovations to the long-idled Mack II building, which is being converted into the plant’s body shop, are nearly finished, while work is about 10% complete at the Mack I building, which will become the general assembly plant. Production is expected to commence by the end of 2020.
Sustainability is a top priority for FCA. The automaker is aiming for the plant to be a "landfill-free" facility with a 10% reduction in emissions in the region. The Mack site is expected to produce less than 380 tons of violent organic compound per year (about one-third of FCA’s Jefferson North plant). Mack also will reuse stormwater and have a stormwater park open to the public on vacant lots at Kercheval Avenue and Beniteau Street to support the area's flora and fauna.
Read a recent Detroit News article about the project here.