"Fast-paced" is a barely adequate description for the construction schedule of the 225,000-square-foot Robert Bosch Corp. Prototype and Laboratory building going up in Plymouth Twp.

Ground was broken last September, the first steel was set in February, and the keys to the building are expected to handed over to the owner on Dec. 31. And it's not just a big box or a conventional office building - Bosch intends to use the $37.5 million building for administration, research, development and testing of electronic automotive components.

"We're on target, and we're on schedule," said Scott Petiprin, project engineer for general contractor Barton-Malow. "The work of the trades has been good, and we've had a really good team effort with our subs, the architect and the owner."

The project has included some construction time-saving features, like prefabricated exterior panels and the use of a floor system that allows crews to pour cement in 20-degree weather, without Visqueen and heaters. The project will employ more than 100 Hardhats when it ramps up with this summer.

The building at Five Mile and Haggerty will include a four-story office area, with the rest of the building on a single story. Petiprin said Bosch has room to expand the building to one million square feet. Bosch is running out of room at its Farmington Hills headquarters.

The new Technical Center is designed with the environment in mind. One feature will include a closed-loop pump system, which will recover heat generated from thermal chambers and compressors in the lab to help heat the facility. And instead of the use of a retention pond for stormwater runoff, the building's designers opted to take advantage of sandy soil at the site to absorb rainwater.

There are expected to be 475 Bosch employees working at this facility, added to the 1,500 in Farmington Hills.

"The decision by Bosch to build its state-of-the-art technical center here strengthens our standing as a global automotive R&D center and demonstrates that our state is the right
place for international companies to grow," said Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm at the groundbreaking ceremony. "We appreciate the company's continued commitment to Michigan and look forward to a strong partnership for years to come."

According to Bosch, innovations to be engineered at the technical center include the iBolt sensing technology, adaptive cruise control, predictive safety systems and driver assistance technologies.

The announcement of the Bosch expansion was welcome news for economically beleaguered Michigan.

"Michigan continues to provide an ideal location for Bosch's operations, offering a close proximity to customers and an atmosphere that fosters growth for the future," said Kurt Liedtke, chairman, president and CEO of the Robert Bosch Corporation. "This new facility will allow us to strengthen our foundation in the state, support the long-term growth of our North American automotive business and expansion of sales and engineering activities."

WELDING A TRUSS section at the Robert Bosch Corp. Prototype and Laboratory building in Plymouth Twp. is Shaun O'Rourke of Iron Workers Local 25 and Great Lakes.

DRYING OUT a base plate at the Bosch project are laborers Andy Ruhlman (Local 1076), with Bill Carpenter (Local 334) standing by with a shovel. The Local 324 operator behind them is David Kotulski.