Rudolph Libbe Wins Build Ohio Award

For the second consecutive year a Rudolph Libbe Inc. project won the Ohio Association of General Contractors’ Build Ohio Award for its work at First Solar’s 2.1-million-square foot manufacturing facility in Lake Township.
The award in Ohio AGC’s Industrial/Heavy category was announced at the organization’s Build Ohio dinner on Nov. 10, in Columbus.
Rudolph Libbe was selected as design-builder for the facility on the strength of building a similar smaller facility for the solar panel manufacturer in 2019. On this project, Rudolph Libbe Inc., a Rudolph Libbe Group company, was asked to accelerate the schedule and turn over the facility for equipment setting in just 12 months.
The facility produces First Solar’s advanced technology Series 6 thin film photovoltaic module, increasing its U.S. capacity by 100 percent and adding 500 jobs.
Rudolph Libbe Group trades personnel worked the majority of the nearly 750,000 man-hours on the project. RLI self-performed sitework, site concrete, site utilities, building foundations, concrete slabs and masonry. GEM Inc., another RLG company, performed building plumbing, structural steel, HVAC, building electrical, central utility building electrical, process mechanical and substation electrical work, and equipment setting.
First Solar has contracted with RLI to build another facility across the street from this project, plus large solar panel manufacturing projects in Alabama and Louisiana.

Panera opens in Oregon
Approximately 35 jobs are expected to be created when a Panera To Go outlet is fully operating at 2963 Navarre Ave. in Oregon.
The company hosted a grand opening last week at the site, which is the company’s first entry into the Oregon market and the 136th Panera Bread bakery-café in Ohio.
The Oregon cafe will be open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Patrons may place orders at a kiosk in the café for to-go service or online or mobile phone.
The first 100 customers at the café opening were given certificates for free bagels and free tumblers.