John Deere's Manufacturing Facility in Kernersville, North Carolina, has won the Solar Integration with Metal award from Metal Architecture. The Design Awards honor projects with exemplary overall appearance, significant use of metal, and visionary designs. Flad designed the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, which features 1000,000 square feet of manufacturing/warehouse high-bay space and 15,000 square feet of finished office space.
Designed to showcase product innovations to industry partners, an angular canopy and transparent entry create a dynamic and welcoming plaza. Emphasizing this public view, exposed structural steel columns, aluminum metal plates, corrugated metal panels, and tilt-up concrete balance industrial tones with modern design elements. Brand identity is strengthened through striking metal elements, including vertical, aluminum fins that provide solar and glare control. The fins accentuate movement along the building, creating a dynamic texture that offers high-impact design and practical functionality.
Utilizing parametric design tools, the team optimized orientation, spacing, and depth to reduce glare and solar heat gain while preserving outdoor views from offices, conference rooms, and the cafeteria. The new facility supports John Deere's vision of a future of low and near-zero carbon emissions.
John Deere 
Manufacturing Facility
July 21, 2026