SICK, a global designer and manufacturer of sensors and sensor solutions for industrial applications, sought to expand and consolidate their North American operations into one 550,000 square foot campus in Bloomington, MN, close to their smaller existing headquarters. Due to the size of the updated campus, the $100 million project will be constructed in four phases over the next 15 years. Once complete, the campus will include office space, production and manufacturing, warehousing, parking ramps, and additional space for projected future expansion needs. Phase one of the project increased manufacturing space by 40% and consisted of the construction of a new 138,000 square foot office area and facility for sensor production and logistics.
For the exterior of the structure, Wells produced and erected load-bearing architectural precast concrete walls that are nearly 40 feet tall. The charcoal-colored monolithic design utilizes six different patterns with a variety of polished concrete, sandblast, and acid etch finishes, randomly placed around the building to create visual interest for the long horizontal structure. Complemented by large reaching windows, the multi-patterned finish disguises joints and provides a stunning and unique exterior.
Because of the architectural wall panels’ load bearing capabilities, there is no frame required to place behind the walls. This provided SICK a cost-effective solution to their building needs, while keeping the large multi-phase development on schedule. With additional phases yet to come, this project has an exciting future ahead of it, and Wells will continue to provide building solutions to help SICK, Inc. in future development plans. |