Central Storage & Warehouse Cold Storage Expansion

When demand outpaced capacity at Central Storage & Warehouse’s (CSW’s) facility, the new co-CEOs pushed forward with the next phase of a long-planned expansion. Together with Consolidated Construction Co., Inc., they set out to build a 55-foot-tall freezer—10 feet above industry standards—introducing technical hurdles into the blueprints and the schedule. With an already complex MEP network, this expansion added a non-traditional fire protection system, requiring 13 buried and extremely large water tanks and more than 1,200 sprinkler heads integrated through the building structure—not in the racking. Mother Nature tested the team’s resolve with rain and high winds, essentially taking 38 working days from the schedule and pushing ultra flat concrete work into the dead of winter, while the sloping wetland site required a 600-foot retaining wall to control future erosion. Safety extended to both construction crews and employees to avoid interrupting daily operations. Through meticulous planning and BIM technology, Consolidated delivered more than 100,000 sq. ft. of new freezer space with 13 loading dock doors, and supporting operational spaces. The collaborative achievement stands as the tallest freezer in both CSW’s or Consolidated’s portfolio; completed four months ahead of schedule, under budget, and without a single safety incident.