Building for Manufacturers in Brighton, Bennett and Along I-70
New plants, expansions and process-line support buildings for manufacturers in Brighton, Bennett, Centennial and the I-70 and E-470 corridors.
Turbine blades do not fit through ordinary doors, and the plants that make them are built around that fact. In Brighton, two Vestas plants that produce wind turbine blades and nacelles are valued at $290 million and provide 1,350 jobs, per Wikipedia's account. A plant like that is a lesson in how manufacturing buildings differ from every other building type: the product, the process and the material flow dictate the structure, not the other way around.
We build for manufacturers who are expanding or relocating on the east side of the metro, where land along E-470 and I-70 is available and workforce is close. Adams County economic development officials told Denver7 that they target healthcare, advanced manufacturing and aviation and aerospace along I-70 near Bennett, next to the Colorado Air and Space Port. To the south, Centennial's top employers include United Launch Alliance and Arrow Electronics, a reminder that aerospace and electronics production are part of the local mix.
Manufacturers are demanding buyers. They know their process better than anyone, they budget from a production line outward and they need a contractor who can interpret equipment drawings as carefully as architectural ones. We build new plants, additions, process-line installations and support buildings, and we coordinate closely with the owner's engineers and equipment vendors.
Where east metro manufacturing is growing
The strongest manufacturing growth follows rail, airport and highway access. Rocky Mountain Rail Park is a 620-acre rail-served industrial park near Manila Road and I-70, adjacent to Colorado Air and Space Port, and its final development plan received unanimous approval from the Adams County commissioners in September 2020. Sites with rail service attract manufacturers that move bulk inputs or heavy outputs, while airport adjacency suits aerospace and time-sensitive products.
E-470 ties these places to the rest of the metro. E-470 has interchanges near Brighton and Commerce City with access to I-76, and another near Henderson with U.S. 85, which gives plants a way to reach multiple freight routes without crossing the center of the metro. We help manufacturers weigh these locations against labor, utilities and entitlement timelines. A site in Brighton faces a different process from one in Bennett, where the town has adopted newer codes and the open land along I-70 is part of a regional economic strategy.
Work we coordinate closely
On a manufacturing project, the sequence of structure, slab and process tie-ins matters, and control of that sequence is easier when one team manages the key trades. We manage the trade partners for foundations, slab placement and the structural steel that forms the frame, and we coordinate with the erection of pre-engineered and conventional steel systems. For plants with overhead handling, our crane building work includes runway beams, columns sized for crane loads and slabs that hold up under wheel loads.
We also coordinate the details that bring a process into the building: pits, trenches, equipment pads, anchor bolts set to vendor templates and embeds for heavy machinery. Setting those items correctly the first time avoids drilling and patching later. When a manufacturer's schedule depends on bringing equipment in by a fixed date, we sequence the structure so that rigging can begin before the building is fully enclosed. Our structural steel erection work is coordinated directly with the foundation trade.
Process drives the building
The first design question is rarely about the building. It is about the process: how raw material arrives, where it is staged, how it moves through the line and what leaves the building. We ask for line layouts and equipment lists at the outset and work with the owner's engineers to confirm clear heights, column spacing, floor loads and utility demands. A clear span that suits a stamping line may be wasted on an assembly cell, and the opposite is also true.
Utilities are the other big variable. Plants may need large electrical service, process water, compressed air, natural gas, industrial waste handling and, in some cases, special exhaust. We confirm utility availability and capacity with the providers before the owner commits to a site, because a distant substation can add months and cost. Floor flatness, vibration control and temperature or humidity targets are also set by process, and each has an effect on slab design and the building envelope. These considerations are part of our manufacturing facility construction work.
Matching construction to equipment arrival
Manufacturing schedules are tied to equipment delivery, installation and commissioning. A press, a furnace or a robotic cell may have a lead time of many months, so we build the construction schedule around its arrival. Foundations for heavy equipment are poured early so concrete can reach strength and the equipment vendor can verify tolerances before delivery.
We also plan for staged occupancy. Many manufacturers want an area for office, shipping or warehouse functions to open first, while the production area is still being finished. Others add to existing plants while production continues, in which case we separate the construction zone from the live line and plan tie-ins for scheduled shutdowns. The result is a plan that shows when each area becomes available and what the owner's team needs to do at each point.
What drives a manufacturing budget
The building shell is often less than half of the final investment. Process utilities, special foundations, heavy electrical service, fire protection for the hazard class and owner-furnished equipment are the large items. We estimate those with the owner's engineers early and show them separately so the owner can see what is changing as design progresses.
Owners can also use their options on speculative or shared space. Some manufacturers prefer to lease a building from a developer, and in those cases we coordinate with commercial real estate developers to size the base building and the tenant improvements. For plants that depend on inbound and outbound freight, we also work alongside logistics and distribution owners to plan truck courts, dock positions and staging space so the plant does not strangle its own logistics. A manufacturing plant is only as useful as the flow into and out of it.
Send the line layout and the shortlist of sites
Send us your line layout, utility needs and target sites. We will tell you what it takes to build the plant on each and which one gets you in production first.
Questions Owners Ask
How early should we bring in a contractor on a new plant?
As soon as you have a site under consideration and a preliminary process layout. We can test cost and schedule for different sites and building sizes and tell you what utilities and permits each will require.
Can you build while our current plant keeps running?
Yes. We separate construction from live production with physical barriers, separate access and agreed shutdown windows for tie-ins. The schedule shows exactly when production will be affected and for how long.
How do you coordinate with equipment vendors?
We invite vendors into preconstruction coordination meetings, request foundation and utility requirements in writing and verify bolt locations against their templates. We also confirm rigging paths and delivery access so equipment can be set without damaging the building.
What code and permit issues do manufacturing buildings raise?
Occupancy classification, hazardous materials quantities, fire protection and egress all depend on what is made and stored. We discuss these with the building and fire officials early, because they affect design and cost. Adoption varies by jurisdiction: Aurora and Arapahoe County are on 2021 codes, while Adams County and Castle Rock use the 2018 set.
Do you build pre-engineered metal buildings for manufacturers?
Yes. Pre-engineered systems can be a fast and economical choice for light manufacturing and assembly. We evaluate them against conventional steel and tilt-wall options and recommend the system that fits the process and the budget.