A new benchmark for solar manufacturing

Confidential EV Manufacturer Riverbend

SUNY Polytechnic Institute, in collaboration with a leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is revolutionizing high-tech manufacturing with a 1.4-million-square-foot (130,064-square-metre) solar panel facility—the largest in the Northern Hemisphere. This one-gigawatt (GW) manufacturing hub stems from the manufacturer’s strategic acquisition of SolarCity, a pioneer in high-efficiency solar technology.

Designed for 24/7/365 operations, the facility supports wafer manufacturing, solar substrate production, and modular assembly—all backed by a new central utility building and campus substation. A 60,000-square-foot (5,574 square-metre) shipping and receiving warehouse optimizes material flow, while a 25,000-square-foot (2,323 square-metre) engineering operations office enhances workforce efficiency with locker rooms, training spaces, and a cafeteria—supporting a 1,400-person, two-shift workforce.

From concept to completion, our team collaborated with SUNY Poly, the manufacturer, and the development team, helping to drive innovation through comprehensive planning, design, and engineering. This facility is a catalyst for sustainable energy, workforce development, and industry transformation, setting a new benchmark for scalable, high-performance solar manufacturing.