In response to a major shift in Mexico's auto production, Valeo—one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive original equipment and aftermarket products—saw an opportunity to enhance its own production facilities in close proximity to its clients. The new, high-tech facility—created for the design, fabrication, and testing of electric motor parts—represents the company's innovative corporate philosophy of equally integrating each worker into the organization, its technical research achievements, and commitment to quality.

Because Davis Brody Bond already had completed a project for Valeo in the U.S., the architect had a good idea of the client's corporate culture and commitment to innovation. Davis Brody Bond was able to demonstrate to Valeo that the increased first cost of a long-span, column-free structure would be more than offset by the programmatic efficiencies gained. The outcome is a one-story metal-and-glass modular building with the flexibility to expand its production, laboratory, and administrative areas on an as-needed basis. An overhead service grid of electrical bus ducts, data systems, compressed air, chilled water, and ventilation ducts allow for easy attachment to varying production layouts.

Constructed in two phases, the production plant has allowed the company to expand and consolidate its operations. Some of the results of the project include:
• Visual operational communication among management, sales, design, and drafting personnel, which created stronger relationships within design teams
• Greater flexibility in creating, staffing, and adjusting teams because of the adaptability of furniture, power/data, and physical infrastructure
• Creation of a desirable workplace, which aided in recruitment and retention of staff in a competitive labor market; the annual turnover rate for this facility is below one percent, which is considered a benchmark in Mexico
• The elimination of the internal columns, enabling the entire building to be 10 percent smaller than originally programmed; the lower construction cost offset the premium attributed to the long-span structure.

"From a quality of workplace, this project is very progressive; in terms of the manufacturing function, it represents a real step forward because it facilitates the flexibility and adaptability that you need to compete in the market today," the jury commented.

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.