As crews from LPCiminelli work on the RiverBend manufacturing hub of SolarCity Corp., the Buffalo contractor will gradually add to its work force at the South Buffalo site.

But once construction hits its deepest cycle next year, as many as 800 workers could be on-site at any time.

That's similar to the peak number of construction workers that LPCiminelli and subcontractors had on-site for $130 million in renovations this year at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="286"] Photographer: Jim Courtney. Crews from LPCiminelli are handling the preparation work for the RiverBend project in South Buffalo.[/caption]

And like the stadium work, the contractor faces a firm deadline to complete the project.

SolarCity's 1.2 million-square-foot manufacturing and R&D center — the centerpiece of a $5 billion project — is the development anchor of the 188-acre RiverBend Commerce Park on South Park Avenue.

Even as a press conference was going on at the Sept. 23 groundbreaking, a dozen or so workers were busy prepping the site.

LPCiminelli began work at RiverBend this summer."We will start ramping up fairly quickly," said Kevin Schuler, senior vice president.His company serves as on-site developer for Fort Schuyler Management Corp., the state agency shepherding the SolarCity project.

Schuler estimates that as many as 50 workers will be at RiverBend "in short order." By the end of the year, the number will be more than 100.

To meet SolarCity's development timetable, the project must be completed by early 2016.

Once final plans are secured, then the construction schedule will be determined.

"Safe to say, we will do whatever it takes to get this done and done on time," Schuler said.

Buffalo Business First: Construction to ramp up quickly at RiverBend site

James Fink | Oct 24, 2014