Graycor Construction Company has topped out on the construction of a 628,713-square-foot high capacity perishable distribution center for one of the world’s largest retailers. The project, located in Shafter, CA, broke ground in October 2018, and features interior elements such as a 73-foot tall high-capacity automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) that will be in place by the building’s delivery date of summer 2020.

“The combination of the cold storage construction, utility infrastructure, seismic design, and building and technology requirements for the ASRS make this the most sophisticated cold storage distribution complex we’ve ever built,” says Roger Sautter, Graycor Construction Manager. “The future of this market is centered around designing and building efficient, high capacity automated distribution centers.”

The 63-acre site includes the 84-foot tall distribution center, and facilities for truck maintenance and fueling, pallet processing, hydrogen farm for battery charging, a generator farm and onsite fire pumps and tanks. The distribution center includes multiple perishable spaces with future expansion capabilities, 83 loading docks, an energy center, and a single-story office. The ASRS is designed to maximize automation of the distribution center processes.

Currently the ASRS vendors are installing their equipment. Graycor will be focusing on completing the rest of the perishable spaces in sequence, the site paving, the various out-buildings and the landscaping over the next few months. Slated for completion in 2020, the facility is centrally located in the San Joaquin Valley to service the western region of the U.S.The Fortune 500 client selected this site because of its access to the high population areas in Central California.

Nationally, Graycor represents more than 98 years of building experience and employs more than 1,500 construction experts and craftspeople. Graycor’s portfolio in the cold storage and distribution center market includes work with ALDI Inc., Walmart, Amazon, FedEx Ground, Prologis, Seefried Industrial Properties and Liberty Property Trust, just to name a few.