ARCO National Construction is partnering with RealCold, an affiliate of the New York-based, multi-strategy real estate private equity manager Related Fund Management (RFM), on a national expansion of its cold storage logistics business. ARCO National Construction was selected to construct the first two new builds of RealCold’s domestic network. The cold chain company already has five existing facilities and plans to be in four additional major markets in the next three years. A nationwide leader in the construction of cold storage facilities, ARCO is providing design-build services for the 377,317 and 310,000-square-foot facilities located in Lakeland, Florida, and Lockhart, Texas, respectively.  

“ARCO is thrilled to work with RealCold to design and construct the first two facilities in its plan to bring cold storage space to multiple markets across the U.S.,” says Brian Westre, vice president and operating partner for ARCO National Construction. “The RealCold team is clearly poised to launch a highly successful new business unit for Related, and we are grateful to be a part of that.”

“With ARCO’s partnership, RealCold is on a journey to provide state-of-the art facilities to the nation’s aging cold chain infrastructure.  We are selecting consumption-driven markets, like Lakeland and Lockhart, which can service millions of consumers, whether through e-commerce fulfillment or via their favorite retailers and grocers,” said Keith Goldsmith, CEO of RealCold. “We are thrilled that these hubs will support our goal of ushering in a new era of cold chain excellence.”

The facilities will each include state-of-the-art convertible freezer space capable of accommodating temperatures -20 degrees Fahrenheit to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The projects’ strategic locations in Lakeland and Lockhart offer next-day delivery to more than ten million and six million people respectively in a 100-mile radius. Both facilities are estimated to be completed in early 2025.  

About ARCO National Construction 
 ARCO National Construction is a premier, full-service design-build general contractor with more than 30 years of experience providing clients with complete project delivery throughout the United States. Our professional, qualified team of engineers, project managers, superintendents, and architects is capable of designing and building the most demanding construction projects anywhere in the country. We pride ourselves in offering the best, most cost-effective, single-source, turnkey solutions and adding value to every project.  

About RealCold
 Established in 2022, RealCold was founded to address the unmet needs of the food cold chain sector. By combining high-growth strategic locations, state-of-the-art Class A facilities, and a diverse offering of value-added services, the company has positioned itself as a collaborative and integrated provider for food retailers, producers, and distributors. This mission is reinforced through its highly bespoke solutioning and customer-centric approach. The RealCold platform will ultimately operate a national, multi-channel network providing 1- or 2-day ground service for the majority of U.S. consumers.