New tallest building brings new heights to Clayton

CLAYTON -- This town’s getting a skyline.

The chance to look up at skyscrapers has never been a reason for people to move to Clayton, since buildings are only allowed to be 50 feet high, according to town ordinances, but town council approved the construction of a new building that will soar as much as 11 stories in the air.

Grifols, the town’s largest employer, wants to build a new plasma warehouse on its campus in the southeast of Clayton, near U.S. 70.

It’s the second building on the Grifols campus that would exceed the town’s 50-foot limit.

The town council previously approved a plan by Grifols to allow a building to be constructed that would stand as much as 75 feet in the air.

Jamie Webb, an architect for the site, explained the design for the building to the town council. He said the building will use green technology to make it more energy efficient.

That technology includes a stormwater runoff system, which he said will make it have less of an environmental footprint.

Though the council approved construction of the building, it wasn’t without some hesitation by some council members.

Councilman Art Holder said he was concerned that the fire department does not have equipment that reaches that high.

Prior to this, there’s been no need for taller equipment.

He urged caution to the builders and owners that if there is a fire incident, it will be hard to control.

The builders said fire hazards are not a big concern, however, because the building will be kept at near-zero temperatures to store the plasma.