2025 Texas & Southeast Best Projects
Award of Merit, Energy: First Solar Civil & Sitework
First Solar Civil & Sitework
New Iberia, La.
Award of Merit
Submitted by LEMOINE
Owner Rudolph Libbe Group
Lead Design Firm Fenstermaker
General Contractor Rudolph Libbe Group
Civil Sitework Contractor LEMOINE
Structural Engineer Ghafari
Transforming an undeveloped rural site into a construction-ready foundation that could support a 2.4-million-sq-ft solar manufacturing facility required comprehensive civil and sitework services. First Solar’s $1.1-billion manufacturing facility in Louisiana represents the largest capital investment in Iberia Parish’s history.
Civil crews installed internal roadways, parking areas, a laydown yard to support construction logistics and a stormwater retention pond, all designed to support long-term facility operations while meeting environmental and sustainability standards.
South Louisiana’s frequent rain events created immediate impacts on sitework activities, particularly during grading, utility installation and subgrade preparation. In response, crews adjusted sequencing, installed temporary drainage solutions and embraced weather windows to make up for lost time.
During excavation, crews also encountered unsuitable soils that could have significantly delayed the schedule and increased costs.
To avoid costly removal and replacement, the team chose to make subgrade modifications and utilize alternative foundation strategies.
