INDUSTRIAL
CJ Bio America, IA
A.S.M.E.P Design
80,000 SF / 4 Story
2018 - 2022
CJ CheilJedang, the flagship food and biotechnology company of South Korea’s CJ Group, is a global innovator in the production of sustainable bio-based products. At the forefront of the company’s biotechnology division is CJ Bio America, located in Fort Dodge, Iowa—home to one of the world’s largest bio-fermentation plants dedicated to the production of essential amino acids such as L-lysine and L-threonine. These high-purity amino acids are critical to animal nutrition and are produced through advanced microbial fermentation technologies developed by CJ’s in-house R&D. With a strong focus on sustainability, carbon reduction, and circular economy principles, the Fort Dodge facility serves as a cornerstone for CJ’s North American operations and reflects the company’s commitment to scalable, eco-conscious manufacturing.
Our team was proud to support the next phase of growth at CJ Bio America through the delivery of a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary design package. Beginning with architectural and structural services, we developed an integrated building layout that optimized space for process efficiency while meeting stringent safety and cleanliness requirements. Structural plans were tailored to accommodate heavy process equipment and utility systems, while also considering future scalability and equipment load paths. Our architectural team ensured clear workflow zoning and coordination with technical systems, enhancing operational flow and long-term maintainability.
On the mechanical side, we designed a complete HVAC system that included equipment layout schemes, duct and piping plans, and plumbing flow diagrams. These systems were engineered to support process integrity and internal climate control, critical for the plant’s high-purity fermentation processes.
Electrical engineering services included the development of grounding and lightning protection plans, lighting layouts, fire alarm systems, and panel board schedules—each designed to support the facility’s continuous, high-demand operations with reliability and energy efficiency.
For life safety, our team provided a full fire protection design, including specifications, load calculations, flow diagrams, and detailed piping plans that met NFPA and local code standards. These systems were integrated into the architectural layout to provide seamless coverage and rapid response across all operational areas.
By delivering a coordinated and permit-ready design package spanning architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection disciplines, we helped lay the foundation for CJ Bio America’s continued success in Fort Dodge. This facility stands not only as a testament to CJ CheilJedang’s leadership in the biotechnology sector but also as a symbol of its investment in innovation-driven, sustainable manufacturing in the United States.
Photo Credit: N-GINEERS, LLC
