Primus Builders completes final work on a 420,000-squre-foot public refrigerated warehouse for Lineage Logistics in Colton, Calif.

“It’s been an amazing experience with a great client,” says Erik Gunderson, executive vice president and project executive at Primus Builders, Woodstock, Ga. “Everyone pulled together to make it happen.”

To meet the demands of its clients in Southeastern California, Lineage Logistics selected Primus Builders to provide design-build services on a new Greenfield facility.

This fast-track project included two phases. Phase 1 featured construction of a 35°F convertible cross dock and installation of eight mini penthouse cooling units. Phase 2 centered on construction of the freezer and cooler. Temperatures in these spaces range from -10°F to 55°F. Primus Builders used cranes to install seven large penthouse cooling units on the roof to provide the required cooling power. Installation of the rack and the IMP interior were also included in this phase.

Features of the new facility include:

  • 134 dock positions
  • 8 banana rooms (with the potential for 10)
  • 3 2-story support offices
  • 2 1-story shipping/receiving offices
  • Exterior concrete totaling 900,000 square feet
  • LED lights in the freezers
  • Shrink compensating floors
  • Battery handling room with opportunity charging stations

“We talked weekly to make sure everyone was aware of our expectations for their performance. There were no surprises. This built-up trust between team members that ensured we could meet every deadline,” says Tony Dembickie, project manager for Primus.

“The schedule was demanding, but we all pulled together to get it done,” says Ron Wald, superintendent on the project. “That includes the Primus panel guys, Hugo Serrano, Robert Costillo and Adrian Puga-Caballero. Their hard work made the difference.”

Primus also implemented PlanGrid, a construction application that allowed the team to easily share plans, mark-ups, photos and reports.

“All project information was located in one place,” says Jessica Murray, assistant project manager for Primus. “Changes to the drawings or challenges in the field could be quickly resolved by the appropriate team member through the app, no matter where they were.”

Lineage Logistics’ commitment to sustainability is another prominent component of this project. Primus worked closely with the Lineage Logistics team to achieve its LEED goals. Efforts include rainwater management, local sourcing of raw materials, construction waste management and low-emitting materials.

“When it’s all said and done, Primus can look back on this project and be proud of its work,” says Gunderson. “We’re now looking forward to our next project with Lineage Logistics, a public refrigerated warehouse about to break ground in Charleston, S.C.”