Gray Celebrates BlueOval SK Battery Park Progress

Gray is partnering with Barton Malow on this historic project located less than an hour from where Gray began as a small, regional contractor more than 62 years ago.

Current construction is on schedule, positioning Ford closer to its target of producing an annual run rate of two million electric vehicles globally by 2026. 

To this point: 

• Crews have moved 4.3 million cubic yards of soil, enough to fill 200 American football stadiums. 
• 283,000 tons of stone have been laid, equivalent to the weight of nearly 1,350 locomotives. 
• 66,000 cubic yards of concrete have been poured, enough to fill 356 backyard swimming pools. 
• 3,300 tons of rebar have been installed to reinforce the concrete, equivalent to the weight of more than 470 elephants. 
• 1,300 deep foundations have been installed, equal to the height of nearly 60 Empire State Buildings when put end to end. 
• 7,900 tons of structural steel have been erected, equivalent to the weight of nearly 400 fire trucks, with structural steel erected two weeks ahead of schedule. 

“To label this facility a monumental project is an understatement,” says Brian Jones, president & CEO of Gray Construction. “The work that’s been completed to this point is already beyond impressive, and once complete, this plant will have generational impact throughout the region and even the world.”

Committed to the Community 

Gray, along with Ford and Barton Malow, is engaging the local community with donations, sponsorships, and volunteerism, carrying on Gray’s legacy of treating others the way we want to be treated and Ford’s 109-year history in Kentucky of partnering with the community to build the future together.

Ford Motor Company provided nearly $40,000 and manpower from its construction partners, Barton Malow Company and Gray Construction, to the city of Glendale, home to BlueOval SK Battery Park. The team refreshed many of the city’s parks and sidewalks, some of which had not been replaced in more than 100 years. 

Ford’s construction partners also installed handicap accessible ramps throughout Glendale and supported various projects locally with United Way of Central Kentucky, Feeding America, and Habitat for Humanity throughout Central Kentucky. Ford donated $42,000 to the Glendale Volunteer Fire Department, increasing the department’s budget by more than 50%. Ford also sponsored this year’s Glendale Crossing Festival. 

“We are proud to be part of this project that is making a major impact in this community,” says Patrick McCowan, chief operating officer, Gray Construction. “This facility, combined with the improvements in the surrounding community, will make a lasting impact for years to come.” 

Construction remains on schedule for battery production to begin in 2025.

About Gray

Consistently ranked among the top industrial contractors in the U.S., Gray focuses on the following markets for domestic and international customers: Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Automotive, Distribution, Mission Critical, and Commercial, with nearly 30 offices across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Founded in 1960, Gray has grown to encompass a complementary family of brands designed to augment and enhance each other’s specialized capabilities without gaps or redundancies. Our robust offering enables us to create one-of-a-kind solutions at the highest levels of customization, delivering unmatched precision and partnership to some of the world’s most sophisticated organizations.

For more information on Gray, visit gray.com and follow us @Gray.