Foxconn factory plan calls for hundreds of trees surrounding concrete and metal walls
Rick Romell
The design for Foxconn Technology Group's factory in Mount Pleasant calls for exterior walls of precast concrete and metal paneling, with hundreds of trees to be planted along the building's front and sides.
The new details on the project were contained in documents made public in advance of a meeting Wednesday of the village Plan Commission, which will consider a conditional use permit for Foxconn.
Architectural drawings show a 993,000-square-foot building with a footprint of about 860,000 square feet. The space occupied by a mezzanine in parts of the one-story structure appears to account for the difference.
The building faces north, toward Braun Road. At the center of the main entrance would be "Japanese-themed entry gardens" and walkways. Final design of those elements is not yet complete.
Among trees listed on the plans are maples, birch, ginkgoes, white firs and white pine, along with such ornamentals as redbud, dogwood, magnolia and lilacs.
The village staff is recommending that the Plan Commission require Foxconn to provide a sample of the metal wall panel to be used on the building.
"This material should be architecturally detailed and avoid the look of a typical, prefabricated, industrial steel building," the staff said.
The staff also recommended that Foxconn be required to provide additional architectural detail along the east, west and northeast facades "to avoid large blank walls." The detail could take such form as windows, building articulation or changes in materials or color, the staff said.
FULL COVERAGE:Foxconn updates
On Tuesday, the village also will hold a public hearing on allowing the height of the Foxconn factory to exceed the ordinary limits. The request is for a primary height of 48 feet. The public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Village Hall, 8811 Campus Drive.
Wednesday's Plan Commission meeting is to begin at 1 p.m., also at the Village Hall.
Contact Rick Romell at (414) 224-2130 or rick.romell@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RickRomell