Western Distribution Services (WDS), Burien, Wash., opened the doors to its new advanced, convertible refrigerated/freezer warehouse near Seattle’s Sea-Tac Airport.

WDS will operate the new facility, which was designed and constructed by Tippmann Innovation (TI), Fort Wayne, Ind., with Bridge Development Partners, LLC, Chicago, serving as developer. The 241,140-square-foot facility will house 41,000 pallets with the versatility to operate a range of temperatures to accommodate products from fresh perishables to frozen foods. The warehouse was built on a 15-acre site that came with its own set of challenges, including a sloping terrain. Over 100,000 cubic yards of soil was moved during construction. However, the close proximity to the airport provides a huge advantage for WDS’ cold storage customers.

“This location is the equivalent of having seats on the 50-yard line at the Super Bowl. It is at the center of a growing area with easy access to several transportation options, including land, sea and air,” says Brian Niven, principal of Bridge Development. “With today’s heavy emphasis on fresh products, this facility is perfectly positioned for quick distribution to just about anywhere in the country.”

“We have been looking for a cold storage solution for several years,” says John Naylor, WDS president. “This is not [TI’s] first rodeo. They have the experience and expertise we needed. If I were going to build another cold storage facility, I would call them again.”