China’s largest auto glass manufacturer, Fuyao Glass America Inc., will invest $200 million to create its first North American glass manufacturing facility in 1.4 million square feet of industrial space at the former General Motors Moraine, Ohio, assembly plant site.

Preliminary plans call for the site, located on 110-acres of the 400-acre industrial complex between Kettering Boulevard and State Route 741, to be reconfigured and divided into separate facilities, with partial demolition of some buildings. New office space will also be created for the plant’s support functions. The company plans to start production next summer and employ from 800 to 1,000 associates.

Prior to Fuyao’s purchase of the space the Industrial Realty Group chose Woolpert, a firm that provides professional design, geospatial and infrastructure services, to complete a master redevelopment plan for the facility and assess its viability. Woolpert subsequently reached an agreement Fuyao Glass America for redevelopment of the former General Motors plant. Woolpert will provide architectural, engineering, construction support and design consulting services for renovation of the plant which closed in 2008.

“We initially considered several choices but ultimately selected Woolpert because of its reputation as a top national design firm and a good local company. We were impressed with their enthusiasm to establish a long-term relationship with Fuyao,” said Junming Wang, Fuyao’s Ohio Project Manager. “We believe this collaboration with Woolpert will result in a mutually beneficial outcome for us, for Woolpert and for this region.”

“One of our goals is to analyze the existing plant to determine the most cost effective means to reuse the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering systems already in place. In essence, we’ll be making the old new again,” said Mike Stanoikovich, Senior Vice President at Woolpert.

“We are proud to play a role in a project of such significance to the Dayton region,” said Mike Flannery, Woolpert’s CEO. “The economic impacts will reach deep into the community with new jobs, increased tax revenues, additional development of the surrounding area and enhanced supply chain opportunities.”