Business

What's being built there? A ‘manmade volcano’ in Burbank, CarMax coming

By Wendy Culverwell

May 18, 2026 5:00 AM

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.

Rockwool starts on $175 million insulation plant.
Lamb Weston decides on fate of Connell processing plant.
CarMax working finishing a $7.5 million Tri‑Cities used car dealership.

What’s being built there? A reader’s guide

What’s being built there? is an occasional Tri-City Herald feature that offers quick explanations of the building projects taking shape in the community. Suggest projects via email: news@tricityherald.com.

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Kennewick, WA

Welcome to “What’s being built there?”

There has been plenty of construction progress across the Tri-Cities area from a “manmade volcano” in Wallula Gap to a popular Italian restaurant eyeing a West Richland move and a new car dealership inching closer to opening.

This regular Tri-City Herald gives quick descriptions and updates on the construction projects shaping the future of Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, West Richland and beyond.

Suggest projects at news@tricityherald.com.

Burbank

Supplied artist rendering of the Rockwool plant in Wallula. Courtesy Rockwool

Rockwool North America Insulation Plant

The Wallula Gap Business Park

Rockwool North America formally cut the ribbon on its massive insulation factory at Wallula Gap Business Park in early May, nearly a year after it began developing the sprawling site overlooking the Columbia River.

The plant, with a construction value of $175 million, will produce building insulation and will serve Rockwool’s business in the western U.S. and Canada.

The 570,000-square-foot complex is centered on what officials call a “manmade volcano,” where crushed basalt will be melted to a lava like consistency and spun into batts that form building insulation.

It is expected to be operational in 2028.

Crews work on the concrete pilings that will support the electric melter, the heart of the stone wool manufacturing process, at the new Rockwool plant in Wallula, near the Tri-Cities. Bob Brawdy bbrawdy@tricityherald.com

Connell

Lamb Weston demolition

811 W. Gum St.

French fry giant Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. secured approval to demolish the Connell processing plant it closed in late 2024.

The project includes demolishing the existing 230,000-square-foot plant. The Americold facility and surrounding outbuildings will remain.

Fisher Construction is the contractor for the $750,000 project.

Kennewick

Edison Retail Complex

5101 W. Okanogan Place

A new retail complex is taking shape at the site of the former Edison Food Truck Plaza, north of Kamiakin High School.

TTB Investments is developing the 2,732-square-foot shell building, with a construction value of about $350,000.

Hummel Construction & Development LLC is the contractor.

Richland

CarMax Auto Superstores

1261 Tapteal Drive

CarMax Auto Superstores Inc., based in Richmond, Va., is wrapping up construction of its first Tri-Cities used car dealership.

CarMax confirmed it expects to open the business by late July.

In the interim, the $7.5 million project is nearly complete. It includes a 7,600-square-foot building and parking for inventory. Signs have been installed.

T.D. Farrell Construction Inc. is the contractor.

CarMax purchased the five-acre property in 2022 and broke ground in 2025.

West Richland

Future La Bella Vita Restaurant

2850 Belmont Blvd.

Work hasn’t started, but state documents indicate La Bella Vita is preparing to build a two-story restaurant totaling 14,375 square feet in the Belmont District.

The city of West Richland is accepting comments on an environmental review through May 27.

Wendy Culverwell

Tri-City Herald

Reporter Wendy Culverwell writes about growth, development and business for the Tri-City Herald. She has worked for daily and weekly publications in Washington and Oregon. She earned a degree in English and economics from the University of Puget Sound. Support my work with a digital subscription