Renovation of a mixed-use development in Libertyville, Illinois. Completed plans call for the renovation of a pre-engineered storage facility; and water / sewer project.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION Flex BFG is acquiring a 335,000-square-foot, single-story building in Libertyville, Illinois, to expand its medical device manufacturing operations. The existing vacant manufacturing and warehouse facility will be outfitted with new injection molding machines, four assembly cells, an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS), coil winding systems, and supporting office, employee, and infrastructure spaces. Preliminary layouts have been prepared by Flex's Building Excellence team and distributed as a basis for design. Epstein's scope encompasses a comprehensive suite of design services, including architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering, as well as industrial process equipment coordination. Each discipline will contribute to the creation of design documents for the following milestones: schematic design, design development, construction documents, bid phase, construction administration, and closeout. Scope of Work o Architectural and Interiors o Interior and Space Planning: Epstein will coordinate with Flex's Building Excellence team to finalize layouts for office and employee spaces, integrating Flex's standard finishes and furnishings. Programming for interiors is under review by the Flex team, with plans to address two existing office and amenity areas on the ground floor, a new office and break area on the west side of the building, and a new office and command center on the mezzanine level, which will include a new elevator. Interior design deliverables will include detailed wall elevations, sections, door schedules, and finish schedules. Furniture specifications will be managed by Office Revolution, Flex's preferred furniture dealer. o Production Areas: The production area design will accommodate 57 injection molding machines, ASRS systems, coil winding equipment, and assembly cells, with layouts optimized for operational efficiency, clearances, and workflow. Epstein's team will ensure the designs integrate seamlessly with Flex's equipment plans and meet regulatory compliance standards. o Environmental Controls: Epstein will incorporate design elements to maintain specified temperature and humidity levels essential for the manufacturing process. The team will collaborate closely with MEP systems to ensure compliance with environmental standards and seamless integration into the facility's infrastructure, addressing HVAC, exhaust, and other critical environmental controls. o Code Compliance: The architectural scope includes a code review to meet local building, fire safety, and environmental regulations. Design considerations will address ADA accessibility, emergency egress, and fire safety requirements for all designated areas, including the potential mezzanine office expansion. Deliverables will ensure the facility complies with life safety standards and is approved by relevant authorities. o Civil Engineering o Site Utility Coordination: Plan and confirm utility connections, including incoming power, water, and compressed air, coordinating with Flex and local authorities to ensure adequate capacity. Parking and Access: Work with Flex to assess parking and access needs for employees and visitors, conforming with the Village of Libertyville for zoning and capacity requirements. o Stormwater and Site Conditions: Assess existing site grading, drainage, and stormwater systems to confirm adequacy for the proposed use, with modifications as needed to meet local regulations. o Dock and Exterior Modifications: Coordinate any modifications required for loading docks, dock locks, and exterior lighting to support production and warehouse needs. o Structural Engineering o Grade Supported Equipment: Evaluate existing slabs-on-grade for ability to support new equipment, ASRS system, tanks, and crane system. Where existing slabs are not adequate or at exterior locations, design new slabs or foundations to meet the criteria for the new elements or systems. o Mezzanine Modifications: Modify mezzanine framing as required to support new elevator and associated equipment. Install new elevator pit and coordinate with location of existing columns. o Roof Supported Elements: Evaluate roof framing capacity to support new rooftop or suspended HVAC/electrical equipment, process piping and catwalks. Reinforce roof joists and girders as required where the available capacity is not adequate. o Mechanical Engineering o HVAC and Environmental Controls: Design HVAC systems to meet production and office space temperature and humidity requirements, coordinating closely with architectural and industrial process needs. o Process Cooling and Compressed Air: Coordinate with Direct Air and other vendors for compressed air and cooling water needs, ensuring proper load sizing and integration with process equipment. o Exhaust and Ventilation: Plan ventilation and exhaust systems for production areas, especially around molding machines, and coil winding equipment, to maintain air quality and comply with safety standards. o Electrical Engineering o Power Distribution and Equipment Connections: Develop power distribution for production equipment, emergency lighting, and office areas, coordinating with process and mechanical requirements for equipment loads. o Generator and Backup Power: Coordinate with Flex on generator needs, ensuring power backup for critical areas such as server rooms and emergency lighting. o Lighting and Controls: Plan and coordinate interior and exterior lighting layouts, incorporating occupancy sensors & other controls and high-bay lighting where needed, aligning with the layout provided by architectural. o Electrical Safety and Compliance: Ensure electrical systems meet NEC standards, coordinating arc flash protection and surge protection where required. o Plumbing o Water and Drainage Systems: Plan water supply and drainage to meet the needs of injection molding machines, employee areas, toilet rooms, and support spaces. Coordinate with equipment providers for specific water requirements (e.g., cooling tower, hot water for tote cleaning). o Wastewater and Condensate Management: Design drainage and condensate handling systems, coordinating with the process cooling and HVAC systems for efficiency and environmental compliance. o Industrial Process Equipment Coordination o Equipment Layout and Interference Checks: Epstein will collaborate with Flex to finalize layouts for injection molding machines, automated storage, and retrieval systems (ASRS), and coil winding equipment, ensuring that all designs meet structural, electrical, and mechanical requirements. Flex will be responsible for optimizing equipment placement, conducting interference checks, and addressing potential conflicts among the equipment. Epstein will coordinate equipment clearance to building systems, and structural elements. Additionally, Epstein will provide detailed connection drawings and ensure the proper integration of utilities such as compressed air and cooling water. Flex will determine the layouts for bridge and jib cranes to meet operational needs and Epstein will coordinate base building infrastructure including foundations and power. o Automation and ASRS Integration: Coordinate with Flex's team on layout and support requirements for ASRS and automated material handling systems, ensuring seamless integration within the production workflow. o Safety and Environmental Controls: Ensure equipment placement adheres to safety guidelines, coordinating clearances and environmental controls to mitigate any contamination risks in production. Please be advised that payment and performance bonds may be required for this project. Although a firm timeline has not been confirmed, construction is not expected to start prior to second quarter 2025. *Project information, including timeline and contacts, has been obtained through public sources. The content management team continues to pursue additional details; however, the contact(s) listed have yet to disclose or confirm any information. Inquiries should be directed to the contact(s) listed.