Detroit company hired for plant

A Detroit company has been hired as the architect and engineer of record this fall when construction begins on National Alabama's railcar plant in Colbert County, company officials said Tuesday.

Albert Kahn Associates Inc. was chosen for the project, largely because of its experience with another major manufacturing facility in Alabama - the Mercedes-Benz plant near Tuscaloosa.

There has been a common thread between Mercedes operations and National Alabama during the year-long process of the company deciding to build in the Shoals.

Bill Taylor, who is president and chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz USI, helped state and local economic development land National Alabama, which was known originally by the code name Project Tiger.

Taylor served as an adviser on the project and continues to be active with National Alabama officials.

Kahn officials also served as architect and engineer of record for Mercedes-Benz and helped build an award-winning 1.8 million square foot plant there.

National Alabama is building a 2 million square foot plant at the Barton Riverfront Industrial Park, about 12 miles west of Tuscumbia.

The plant, which will stretch about 1 mile long and 450 feet wide, will employee 1,800 people.

"The decision to engage Kahn is an extension on our companywide commitment to excellence," said Greg Aziz, chairman and chief executive officer of National Steel Car Limited, the parent company of National Alabama. "They have a proven track record and have demonstrated a deep appreciation of our needs."

Kahn has a Birmingham office that will be involved in the construction of the Barton plant.

The company has been heavily involved in the design of several automotive facilities worldwide.

National Alabama officials hope to begin plant construction in late September or early October.

They already are in the process of applying for an air permit with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

The air permit is required before concrete can be poured on the building's foundation.

The new plant will house National Alabama's fabrication, construction, finishing and administration functions.

National Alabama is spending $350 million on the plant and is using 650 acres of the Barton industrial complex, company officials said.

Contracts for actual construction of the plant have not been awarded.

Forrest Wright, executive director of the Shoals Economic Development Authority, continues to work closely with company officials as they go through the process of beginning construction.

He said a "super general contractor" will likely be used to oversee the total project, but much of the actual construction could involve local and regional contractors.

"We can't require them to use local contractors, but we've asked them to give local contractors an opportunity to bid," Wright said. "The company is absolutely committed to providing that opportunity.

"They are breaking down construction of the building into smaller pieces, which should give local general contractors and sub-contractors an opportunity to do some of the work."

Wright said the project, considering its size, hasn't had any major problems to date.

The company plans to begin production in spring 2009. When operating fully, the plant will have the capacity of producing about 8,000 railcars annually.

The Barton park is already a site of major construction activity, according to Wright.

SCA Tissue is involved in a $150 million expansion project. When completed, SCA Tissue's total investment at the Barton park will top $400 million.

Adding National Alabama's $350 million investment, the industrial park will be the home of a total investment of three-quarters of a billion dollars.

Although available space at the site is limited, Wright said his office has received other inquiries from companies searching for a plant site.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.