Alpharetta board approves LG Electronics R&D/test chamber site and materials with conditions
City of Alpharetta Design Review Board · December 19, 2025
The board approved LG Electronics USA’s two‑story R&D and HVAC testing chamber building and associated civil/landscape work, conditioned on staff approval of dumpster‑enclosure materials and a field‑approved color match for the terracotta rainscreen to the existing campus brick.
The Design Review Board granted approval Dec. 19 for LG Electronics USA to add a two‑story research and development building with a testing chamber to its existing Alpharetta campus, subject to two staff‑review conditions.
LG representatives said the building will support product testing and North American R&D, and that the company plans to expand its local engineering staff (approximately 25 employees already, with plans to grow to as many as 50 over time and a hiring target of roughly 35 next year). The new structure (roughly 160 by 92 feet) includes a high‑volume first floor for HVAC testing chambers and an office level above; the design team emphasized siting the building within existing paved areas to minimize new impervious surface and proposed bioswales and permeable pavers to meet runoff and stormwater quality needs for the redeveloped 1.3 acres.
Architect Junil Wee described a terracotta/gray rainscreen approach meant to harmonize with the existing brick campus while using modern rainscreen materials for performance. Board members cautioned that a near‑match that nonetheless differs from the existing brick can read as a mistake, so the board required a field sample and allowed a custom color match if necessary.
The board approved the civil and landscape plan (6‑0) and later approved elevations and materials (6‑0) with these two conditions: the dumpster enclosure material will be submitted to staff for final approval, and the terracotta rainscreen must be matched to the existing brick (custom color if needed) with a field sample that staff approves before construction.
Staff and applicants said rooftop mechanical units would be centrally located and largely hidden by grade and screening; the team also plans a masonry trash enclosure and tree‑sensitive work to preserve existing canopy where possible. The project will move forward to permitting with the agreed staff review items outstanding.
