VW adds to plant for second time

For the second time in less than a year, Volkswagen has unveiled plans to build a bigger Chattanooga auto assembly plant.

"This project, given the timeline and the complexity of having a new product, a new plant, new parts with new suppliers and a complete new team, is the most challenging project we have in our group," said Frank Fischer, who heads Chattanooga's operations for VW, on Friday.

VW is adding 43,000 square feet to the assembly area's 775,000 square feet, he said.

The move will enable the German automaker to boost production capacity at a later time, Mr. Fischer said. Currently, VW is slated to produce 150,000 vehicles a year after it opens the $1 billion plant in early 2011.

"This is a very important step for us," said Mr. Fischer, noting plans call for adding seven bays and lengthening the assembly building's conveyor belts.

Late last year, VW announced it was expanding the size of the plant's paint shop.

Bridge competition

Volkswagen officials also said they're holding a student design competition for a pedestrian bridge that will be a signature feature of the factory and serve as its main gateway for workers and visitors. The bridge will run from the training center to the factory entrance.

Graduate and undergraduate students from UTC, UT-Knoxville, University of Memphis, Georgia Tech and Auburn University are eligible to compete along with recent graduates of the schools not employed as design professionals.

A jury of design and engineering professionals will select the winning design for the bridge that will stretch nearly 500 feet over Poe Branch and green space at the plant.

Jan Spies, an architect who oversees all VW plant construction worldwide, said the bridge "has to be more than beautiful, it has to be practical."

He told a group of students who toured the plant construction site the design of the bridge should be sustainable technically, materially, constructively and culturally.

Jon Coddington, director of urban design for downtown nonprofit redevelopment group RiverCity Co., said there should be an "incredible wow factor" to the bridge.

He said design is one of auto company's core values.

Chattanooga architect Heidi Hefferlin, American Institute of Architects Chattanooga competition chairwoman, said first prize is $2,500. She termed the project "a bridge between two cultures."

The winning design is to be picked in January.

UTC senior civil engineering student Ryan Eskew termed the competition "an exciting opportunity."

"They're hoping it will be something very artistic," he said.

New growth

Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey said the size of the factory keeps on growing.

"It's another sign of things to come," he said.

Mayor Ron Littlefield called the news "not a total surprise but very pleasant. It's all coming together very well."

Mr. Fischer said plant construction is on time. The company is hiring specialized employees now. Plans are to begin taking applications for hourly workers this fall and to start hiring them in the first half of 2010. VW is to hire 2,000 workers.

Mr. Fischer said 19 of 40 planned prototypes of the new midsize sedan that will be produced in Chattanooga have been made in Wolfsburg, Germany, which is VW's world headquarters.

"Evaluation drives start in October," he said.

Tom Loafman, Volkswagen Group of America's director of purchasing, said the company is requiring its suppliers to the Chattanooga plant to have the same local and diversity goals as the company.

"We've decided to implement a strategy of driving down into the supply base," he said.