Germany-based Dräxlmaier Automotive of America is one of the most respected Tier 1 suppliers in the Automotive Industry, supplying fine leather interior parts and wiring harnesses to OEMs worldwide. Dräxlmaier’s North American Headquarters facility in Duncan, South Carolina is a key supplier to the BMW Assembly Plant in nearby Spartanburg. As a BMW supplier, Dräxlmaier must operate efficiently and with a great deal of flexibility.

Without a clearly defined growth strategy, Dräxlmaier would be unable to meet the demanding requirements of BMW’s Just-In-Time manufacturing process. To ensure their agility and to maintain a successful partnership with BMW, Dräxlmaier hired David W. Lewis, AIA Architect to assist them in defining their long-range growth strategy for the North American market.

The first phase of the project was to master plan for an $8 Million building expansion program. The project consisted of a long-range, phased-growth master plan for a 40,000 square foot high-bay, narrow-aisles Warehouse and a new 42,000 square foot Research and Development Center, administrative office expansion and leather production facility expansion. In addition, the master plan also had to accommodate a future manufacturing expansion in excess of 250,000 square feet.

Context Design Group is currently involved in developing a continuously evolving property wide site master plan (including Landscape Design services) to reflect recent improvements and follow planned growth for the facility.