Integrated Design-Build firm A M King and Aldi, a global grocery retailer, celebrated the grand opening of Aldi’s newest regional headquarters and distribution center on January 31. A M King provided property consulting for ALDI U.S. and designed and built the 564,000-square-foot structure, which includes cold storage, dry storage and packaging space. 

The facility, located in Loxley, Alabama, features distinctive design elements geared towards maximizing operational and environmental efficiency. It will service more than 100 stores in southern Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and the Florida panhandle—marking the company’s presence in 38 states. Aldi is planning to hire more than 200 warehouse associates to support the company’s growth in the Gulf Coast area.

“Aldi and A M King have a long and successful relationship,” said A M King Vice President Dan Crist. “A M King’s full property consulting services were instrumental to Aldi as the company was contemplating a Gulf Coast expansion. We then moved forward with development of a spacious and multifaceted facility, incorporating groundbreaking design elements that will serve as a blueprint for future projects with Aldi.”

A M King worked in tandem with Aldi to determine adequate site infrastructure requirements. Ultimately, A M King assisted Aldi in acquiring a 150-acre site just north of Interstate 10, conveniently located between Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, and 25 miles from Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The scope of work on the Loxley facility included 216,781-square-feet of Dry (Ambient Temperature) Storage; 22,022-square-foot of 55-degree Storage; 65,674-square-feet of 34-degree Cooler Storage; 12,914-square-feet of 30-degree Meat Storage; 27,975-square-feet of 0-degree Freezer; 4,957-square-feet of -10-degree Ice Cream Freezer; 45,779-square-feet of Perishable Inbound/Outbound Dock with 38 dock positions; 82,304-square-feet of Dry Inbound/Outbound Dock with 49 dock positions; and 24,679-square-feet of Class A office spaces.

The conception of this facility is a continuation of the retailer’s efforts to maximize the efficiency of their operations through facility design. Several new elements have been incorporated into the Loxley facility for efficiency, including: 

• Use of insulated metal panels (IMP) in lieu of concrete tilt or precast concrete exterior panels. The warehouse is fully designed with 6-inch thick IMP, creating a thermally tight and efficient building envelope.
• Optimum racking organization, determined by product analysis from storage and flow perspectives.
• First Aldi distribution center to utilize cross-docking services.
• Floor-to-ceiling curtain wall around two sides of the two-story office permits large amounts of natural light to filter into the space. Large, unobstructed areas of glazing at the office allow all employees to have outdoor views.
• Restrooms, locker rooms and maintenance for both ambient temperature and cooler and freezer employees are housed in the central core of the building.

Notable sustainability initiatives in the building include:

• A full solar panel array over the dry warehouse, which sends surplus energy back into the grid.
• Drive-in style dock doors in the perishable docks provide a much better seal for a thermally tight building.
• Clerestory windows surround the dry portion of the warehouse, allowing natural light to help 

offset the lighting needs within the area.

• Full LED lighting throughout the entire building and site.

 “A M King has been a valued partner throughout the design and construction of our newest regional headquarters and distribution center in Loxley, Alabama,” said Dan Gavin, vice president of Real Estate at ALDI U.S. “A M King was key in the development of this state-of-the-art facility, and we’re thrilled with the integration of dynamic design elements aimed at maximizing operational efficiency and sustainability.”

About A M King 
 A M King is an integrated Design-Build firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with offices in Greenville, South Carolina, and Chicago, Illinois. An employee-owned company, A M King consistently and successfully delivers quality projects throughout the United States. With an experienced team committed to protecting clients’ assets, the firm provides property consulting, design, construction, and facility services in key markets.