Katerra, a construction technology company, recently revealed plans to build an advanced manufacturing factory in California’s Central Valley. The Tracy, Calif., facility will produce building components such as wall panels, floor systems, roof truss assemblies, windows, cabinets, and finishes.
The 577,000-sf, factory will complement Katerra’s existing California operations, including its headquarters in Menlo Park and office in San Francisco. The new facility will differ from Katerra’s first, located in Phoenix, Ariz., by including significantly more automation, including fully automated wood frame wall production lines, automated floor lines, automated cabinet and finish areas, automated roof truss lines, an automated window line, and a light gauge steel production line.
See Also: Katerra, a tech-driven GC, plots ambitious expansion
The new facility will be located near rail, shipping ports, and freeways and create more than 500 jobs for the area. Production is slated to begin in 2019. Katerra is also in the process of building a mass timber manufacturing facility in Spokane, Wash., that will produce cross-laminated timber wall panels and floor systems when it becomes operational in 2019.
Related Stories
| Jun 18, 2013
Report: HVAC occupancy sensors could slash building energy demand by 18%
Researchers at the DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory conclude that significant energy savings can be achieved by varying ventilation levels based on the number of people in a given space.
| May 28, 2013
LED lighting's risks and rewards
LED lighting technology provides unique advantages, but it’s also important to understand its limitations for optimized application.
| Apr 15, 2013
Advanced lighting controls and exterior tactics for better illumination - AIA/CES course
To achieve the goals of sustainability and high performance, stakeholders in new construction and renovation projects must rein in energy consumption, including lighting. This course presents detailed information about lighting control strategies that contribute to energy efficient buildings and occupant well-being, as well as tips for lighting building exteriors effectively and efficiently.
| Apr 8, 2013
Most daylight harvesting schemes fall short of performance goals, says study
Analysis of daylighting control systems in 20 office and public spaces shows that while the automatic daylighting harvesting schemes are helping to reduce lighting energy, most are not achieving optimal performance, according to a new study by the Energy Center of Wisconsin.
| Apr 1, 2013
Half of building owners use 'smart' technologies, says survey
A survey of 291 building owners by IDC Energy Insights shows that 50% of owners use smart building technologies, such as HVAC controls, lighting controls, and analytics/data management.
| Mar 27, 2013
Small but mighty: Berkeley public library’s net-zero gem
The Building Team for Berkeley, Calif.’s new 9,500-sf West Branch library aims to achieve net-zero—and possibly net-positive—energy performance with the help of clever passive design techniques.
| Feb 8, 2013
5 factors to consider when designing a shade system
Designing a shade system is more complex than picking out basic white venetian blinds. Here are five elements to consider when designing an interior shade system.
| Jan 16, 2013
Achieving Educational Excellence with Greater Comfort in Hudson, Iowa
Improving a problematic temperature control system at Hudson High School paves the way for enhanced comfort, greater energy efficiency, and significant savings.