Katerra Plans Components Factory

Katerra, a technology company that claims it is redefining the construction industry, announced plans to open a new advanced manufacturing factory in Tracy, Calif., where it will produce building components including wall panels, floor systems, roof truss assemblies, windows, cabinets and finishes.

Katerra reports it is expanding its U.S. operations to support $3.7 billion in new build project bookings. With its new 577,000 sq. ft. factory, Katerra’s manufacturing presence in Tracy will add more than 500 jobs. This facility will complement Katerra’s existing California operations, including its headquarters in Menlo Park and office in San Francisco.

“Establishing a manufacturing presence in the Central Valley made sense to efficiently serve the West Coast market while gaining access to talent to operate advanced robotic equipment,” says Michael Marks, chairman and co-founder of Katerra.

Katerra says its integrated factory model seamlessly connects building design to the factory floor and job site. Compared to its first and existing factory located in Phoenix, Ariz., Katerra’s next generation plant will be an advanced manufacturing facility with significantly more automation. The operation will include 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. The factory will be able to produce, on an annual basis, the equivalent of 12,500 multifamily units. Production is scheduled to begin in 2019

Katerra is also currently constructing a mass timber manufacturing facility in Spokane, Wash., which will produce cross-laminated timber wall panels and floor systems when it comes on­line in 2019. Katerra’s near-term manufacturing expansion plans for the U.S. includes three more building components factories to serve the South and East Coast markets, as well as another mass timber production facility to be lo­cated in the Southeast.

l Barely a week after announcing the acquisition of North American pioneering mass timber design firm Michael Green Architecture (MGA) in the Pacific Northwest, Katerra has now acquired Atlanta-based architectural firm Lord Aeck Sargent (LAS). While LAS doesn’t have the mass timber experience that MGA does, it counts sustainable urban projects in its portfolio.

More importantly, the two acquisitions give Katerra architect licenses in 31 states plus in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada while doubling Katerra’s overall design staff.

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