US Cold Storage - Gorton's

107,125 sf expansion of an existing cold storage facility to include a VNA freezer, loading dock and battery charging room for US Cold Storage and 117,250 sf expansion of an existing cold storage facility to include a fish production facility, an office, loading dock and support spaces for Gorton’s Seafood. 

The goal of the project was for Gorton’s to centralize their operations to reduce transportation costs and for US Cold Storage to expand their freezer capacity to support the new production facility. This expansion enhances both companies’ operational efficiencies for future growth.

Coordinating Complex Needs for Multiple Entities
This project involved simultaneously building for US Cold as both landlord and cold storage operator, and Gorton’s Seafood as tenant and food processor. Customizing the space for a national processor was further complicated by a Fortune 150 restaurant group requiring separate production areas. Site flow was designed with dedicated entries for Gorton’s and US Cold, while a rail dock was added at the end of construction. Unique features included a cascading ammonia and CO2 system for the VNA section, Virtual Reality for design collaboration, and a bespoke snowload solution for the tall freezer portion.

Self-Perform 
United Insulated Structures self-performed the installation of the insulated metal panels. 

Virtual Reality
We utilized cutting-edge virtual reality technology, thanks to our in-house VDC team. The virtual tour allowed the client to immerse themselves into a detailed 3D model of the facility, facilitating enhanced collaboration and accelerating the decision-making process during design reviews.