Foxconn seeking firms to build features of planned Eau Claire innovation center

Foxconn is seeking firms to build out the coworking space and other features in the planned innovation center in Eau Claire.

Foxconn Place Chippewa Valley will be located at Haymarket Landing, on 200 and 210 Eau Claire St. and 4 South Barstow. This facility will connect west central Wisconsin to Foxconn’s Racine County presence, also serving as an incubator and laboratory for “next-generation technological solutions,” according to a release.

The Taiwanese company says businesses with “strong track records” in Wisconsin will be given preference in this process. The RFP has several main focus areas including a coworking space, an “application area” for testing technology, and a space for building brand and culture.

Alan Yeung, director of U.S. strategic initiatives for Foxconn, says this Eau Claire facility will eventually have 150 workers.

“Establishing Foxconn Place Chippewa Valley and our request for ideas and design proposals to update and enhance this office are in line with our continued efforts to contribute to an attractive and vibrant environment for talent, innovation, business and the local community,” Yeung said in a release. “We hope to do our part to inject new energy that will support the ongoing development of the downtown area.”

Proposals are due by 10 a.m. Sept. 27 to 611 E. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee.

Foxconn had announced earlier the purchase of 15,000 square feet of coworking space in Haymarket Landing, along with “The Grand,” a six-story building that was not included in yesterday’s RFP announcement.

According to the release, Foxconn plans to occupy the space by December of this year. The company is holding an informational session on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Pablo Center at the Confluence in Eau Claire.

Once complete, the Eau Claire Foxconn center will be one of three locations for the company aside from the Mount Pleasant facility. The other two are Foxconn’s North American corporate headquarters in downtown Milwaukee, and Foxconn Place Green Bay.