Efficiency
Coordinated with the City of Conroe and local partners to complete an innovative permitting process that allowed for efficient plan approvals and an earlier construction start date
Cost Savings
Significantly mitigated initial foundation cost estimates through virtual collaboration and geotechnical study facilitation that identified expense-saving measures
Life Sciences
Created an expansive biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility, benefiting medical research and economic development in Conroe and beyond
Conroe, Texas, is a growing city north of Houston that is investing in technology, life sciences, and economic development through the creation of the Deison Technology Park. Part of this expanding campus, the VGXI headquarters provides a hub for biopharmaceuticals manufacturing, specifically supporting plasmid DNA production for medical research.
Kimley-Horn partnered with architect and prime designer Hanbury as well as BE&K Building Group and HIPP Design + Consulting to create this 120,000 sq. ft. headquarters and manufacturing space. Altogether, we provided the following services for the VGXI manufacturing facility project:
Our structural engineering work on this project included the design of concrete tilt panel walls in collaboration with other project partners. We also coordinated the wall installation with the construction team to support a solid structural framework for the VGXI headquarters.
VGXI Headquarters and Manufacturing Facility Project Recognition
- 2024, Society of American Registered Architects, Honor Award
- 2023, Engineering News-Record Texas & Louisiana, Manufacturing Best Project
- 2023, American Institute of Architects (AIA) – South Carolina, New Construction Honor Award over 5,000 SF
- 2023, AIA – North Carolina, Merit Award
- 2023, AIA – Hampton Roads, Award of Excellence
- 2023, AIA – Greenville, Honor Award
- 2023, Tilt-Up Concrete Association, Tilt-Up Achievement Award, Manufacturing/Industrial
Coordination as a Trusted Consultant
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and geographical distance between partners, we leveraged virtual coordination and local responsibility to manage project phases in efficient and cost-saving ways. Our team worked intentionally as a trusted advisor to the client—including facilitating geotechnical studies to significantly mitigate foundation costs and completing multiple rounds of value engineering.
Efficient Permitting and an Expedited
Construction Timeline
The VGXI headquarters was planned and constructed at an efficient pace during the pandemic, from the beginning of the contract in 2020 to the ribbon cutting in late 2022. Phase permitting processes were new for the City of Conroe, so local Kimley-Horn partners had multiple permit meetings with city staff to accelerate the process and worked with them to leverage pandemic-era exceptions. The client, design team, and Kimley-Horn team members coordinated with local partners to have site plans printed and delivered, allowing several days for the prints to sit untouched to avoid virus transfer while still meeting deadlines. At one point, a Texas Kimley-Horn partner drove on a Friday afternoon to hand-deliver plans to the City to ensure that permitting would go through on time.
Due to this coordination, the City granted an exception to their standard permitting procedures and allowed the sitework scope to be permitted in multiple phases. Taking advantage of this opportunity, we prepared an early sitework permit package, and the contractor was able to begin construction before the full project scope design was complete. The subsequent full sitework permit package was approved only two months after the first one was approved, resulting in the contractor getting a two-month head start on construction and expediting the project timeline.
While the VGXI site in the Deison Technology Park has additional phases planned, the initial finished facility serves to expand life sciences in the region and promote life-changing medical research and innovation in southeastern Texas and across the globe.
Featured Image Attribution: Keith Isaacs
