In the spring of 2019, Korean-based LG Electronics debuted its new $360 million manufacturing plant in Clarksville, Tennessee, to much excitement in the local community. Representing LG’s first washing machine plant in the United States, the highly advanced, 1 million-square-foot facility produces front- and top-loading washing machines on a 310-acre site.
Gresham Smith took LG’s vision for a state-of-the-art facility and turned it into a dynamic reality. The plant sets a new standard for home appliance production, with highly automated features like robotic washing machine assembly operations, and not-so-common employee-friendly elements such as interior daylighting and landscaping.
During the design process for the appliance plant, we also delivered a master plan to serve as a blueprint for future growth on the site if LGE chooses to expand in the future.
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Life in the Fast-Track Lane
Gresham Smith provided full architectural and engineering services for the project on a fast-track schedule of just 14 months for design and construction—an unprecedented time frame given the complexity and magnitude of the project scope. Close teamwork was the foundation of the project’s success, with daily coordination between the engineering and design team as well as other project team members proving essential. The project was also aided by the latest BIM technology, which allowed an on-site manager to update models in real-time to address construction challenges.
The Big Box Theory
Our client didn’t want to simply drop a “big-box” plant into the middle of their 310-acre site. Supporting LG’s wishes, our design creates a signature front facade for the new facility, featuring the distinctive “W” shape of the main building’s exterior columns—a subtle nod to the washing machines that are manufactured within.
Bringing VE to LG
Gresham Smith provided value engineering for all building systems. The plant comprises two main assembly lines—one for top-load washers and one for front-loaders—as well as a central utility building and additional support buildings, including a warehouse for materials and appliances. The design also features a utility support area, a shipping and receiving area, hazardous materials storage, a recycling center and a guest information center.
A True Community Asset
Honoring LG’s commitment to being a true asset within the Clarksville community, the new “smart” manufacturing facility embodies both an engineering feat and a foreign, direct-investment success story, evidencing the growth of the U.S. Industrial sector. To date, the plant employs almost 700 employees who work synergistically with the facility’s leading-edge automated processes.
A Blueprint for the Future
While there are no concrete plans yet for expansion, we delivered a master plan for the site as well as design concepts if LGE decides to add production capacity in the future.
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