Saxum Real Estate is a nationally recognized, vertically integrated real estate development firm. As they’ve ventured into the cold storage market, Saxum has relied on the expertise of companies like Primus to help them establish their position as a market sector leader. Their first project with Primus was a two Greenfield cold storage building campus totaling over 427,000 SF in Burleson, TX. The success of that project led to the project in Jacksonville.
Facility Features
This Greenfield cold storage distribution facility spans 334,000 SF on a 32.4-acre site, purpose-built to support cold chain logistics for its single tenant, Arcadia Group. The facility includes:
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10° freezer room
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35° truck dock
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QFR blast freezing technology
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USDA inspection room for poultry products
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De-slat area
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34 dock doors
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Office and support spaces, including a conference room, drivers lounge, and break areas
Design Innovations
The Jacksonville facility included several design innovations including:
Automated Slatting and De-Slatting System
Saxum chose to implement automated slatting and de-slatting, a forward-thinking solution that efficiently moves product from the blast freezer to the loading dock. Combined with automatic stretch wrappers, this system can reduce traditional labor requirements by up to 60%, enhancing productivity and throughput while lowering operating costs.
Ribbon Window System
One of the most visually striking design choices is the continuous ribbon window that wraps around the facility. This architectural element allows an abundance of natural light into the workspace, promoting a more comfortable and productive environment for employees.
Construction Innovation: 4D Scheduling
Primus implemented 4D scheduling, integrating the project’s Revit model with the timeline of construction activities. This technology enabled all stakeholders to visualize the full construction process before ground was broken, aligning expectations and improving collaboration. The result was a more predictable, transparent and efficient construction schedule, ensuring the project remained on time and on budget.
Field teams benefitted from a clear visual roadmap, which helped coordinate subcontractor efforts, improve safety planning and streamline weekly work plans across all disciplines.
Award Winner!
The Design-Build Institute of America’s Southeast Chapter recently recognized the Jacksonville project for its exceptional design-build delivery. The association appreciated our forward-thinking design, intelligent automation and sophisticated planning tools like 4D scheduling. Congratulations to the project team!