Woodward Inc. has selected Ghafari Associates to design a new manufacturing/office campus as part of an expansion initiative. The campus development, located in Rockford, marks the first collaboration between Woodward and Ghafari.
Ghafari is serving as the architect and engineer of record for the new $200 million campus, which will include a production facility and office complex and total approximately 300,000 square feet. Upon completion, it will serve as the headquarters for Woodward’s aircraft turbine systems business group. Woodward opted to phase the design of the campus for future expansion.
Ghafari’s scope of services includes programming/planning, architecture and interior design, as well as civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering. The firm is also providing industrial, manufacturing and process engineering services. Ghafari has engaged two local consultants, civil engineer ARC Design and landscape architect Thomas Graceffa Associates Inc., to assist with the project.
On Oct. 31, 2012, Woodward hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking event at the Rockford area campus in Loves Park with various special guests and public officials in attendance. During the ceremony, Sagar Patel, president of Woodward ATS, detailed Woodward’s decision process for selecting Ghafari as its design partner.
“Ghafari has a lot of specialty service(s) and people within their firm who will be able to help us work through and make sure that this facility is laid out such that all of our members’ jobs are easier to do,” Patel said.
