Global refined copper demandCopper demand continues to rise, mainly due to increased electrificationElectrification, such as electric vehicles. ElectrolysisElectrolysis is the primary method for refiningRefining copperCopper today and in the foreseeable future. This places significant importance on achieving optimum designsDesign for brownfield and greenfield tankhouseTankhouse projects. While the overall concepts and designsDesign of tankhousesTankhouse have remained largely consistent for nearly a century, technological advances have driven significant incremental improvements and optimizationsOptimization, setting modern plants apart from those of the past. These advancements include automationAutomation, roboticsRobotic, improved process equipmentEquipment efficiencyEfficiency, monitoring systems, and information management. This paper outlines an approach for optimal tankhouseTankhouse designDesign aimed at owners and designers seeking to understand modern designDesign practices and tailor solutions for their specific projects. It highlights optimizationOptimization opportunities for both brownfield and greenfield projects using new technologiesTechnology. While “optimal” varies by project, the universal framework offers a flexible methodology for diverse scenarios. This paper references a recent European refinery rebuild project where the client needed a basic engineeringEngineering package for a new 230 kt/a copper tankhouseCopper tankhouse. By closely collaborating with the client, the designDesign team proposed operational optimizationsOptimization, resulting in a best-in-class tankhouseTankhouse designDesign. The project improved upon the previous facility and included flexibility for expansion to 350 kt/a of cathodeCathode production.