PCL Construction Services Inc. has been awarded the contract to build the Vestas Wind Turbine Tower Manufacturing Campus in Pueblo.
Once complete in mid-2009, the tower manufacturing campus will be the largest of its kind in the world, occupying more than 600,000 square feet in its entirety and representing one of the largest single investments in Vestas history, the company said. When combined with its existing facilities in Windsor and the newly planned facilities in Brighton, Vestas will add a total of 2,500 new jobs to Colorado.
"We are thrilled to participate in a project of such complexity and scale," said Kevin Welch, PCL's senior project manager for the Vestas Towers' project. "We look forward to working closely with Vestas in making Colorado a leader in renewable energy."
The new campus on the southern edge of Pueblo will include an approximately 400,000-square-foot production facility where the tower sections will be made, an approximately 140,000-square-foot surface treatment plant where the finishes will be applied, an approximately 43,000-square-foot internals building where all of the hardware will be installed in sections, and administrative offices. PCL said it will be by far Colorado's largest construction project this year.
"At PCL, we pride ourselves in being able to offer an extensive network of industry professionals who have relevant experience they can lend to this specialized project," said Allen Ross, vice president and regional district manager for PCL. "This project requires experts who are prepared to quickly and efficiently respond to its unique challenges. We are delighted that Vestas chose not only a Colorado site, but a Colorado contractor to create their latest vision, and we are proud to have the expertise to successfully bring that vision to completion."
Vestas opened its first North American facility earlier this year in Windsor. The new Pueblo project will be one of four total Vestas production facilities in Colorado. Other facilities include two planned for Brighton — one for wind blade production and another for nacelle assembly.
