Solectron's explosive growth in custom electronics manufacturing left the company scrambling to expand their facilities in the Texas Hill Country. Working within the strict environmental confines of the City of Austin's Site development process, our office suggested a two-step approach to ease the shortage of space.

In order to avoid the lengthy site permitting approval process in the short run, we designed a mezzanine to be constructed in the high-bay warehouse. This solution allowed Solectron to recapture space for offices, storage, administration, and test functions. In addition, eight new production lines could be assembled on the ground floor, with process utilities suspended from the mezzanine structure above.

The second stage involved comprehensive design development of 75,000 SF of custom electronics assembly and testing capacity, in addition to master planning for future expansions. The plan replaces surface parking with garages in order to reclaim green space in trade for building expansion, while also preserving many heritage trees growing on the park-like site. With these plans in place, Solectron will be ready to expand its facilities by as much as a quarter of a million square feet for the next demanding business cycle.