Flow is the design
In a distribution centre, the layout is about flow: receiving, putaway, storage, picking, packing and shipping. Dock doors, staging space, aisle widths and sortation equipment all need to line up. A change in one place affects the others, so we work from your process map when planning a renovation or expansion.
Many facilities run multiple shifts. We schedule work in zones, and plan inspections and shut-downs for slow periods whenever possible.
Power, controls and comfort
Distribution centres consume a lot of electricity. Conveyors, sorters, chargers, dock equipment, lighting and refrigeration all add up. Our electrical crew, led by a Master Electrician, assesses capacity, upgrades distribution, and installs power and controls for new equipment. Because they are our own crew, outages can be tight and well planned.
Our mechanical crew handles HVAC, makeup air, heating and plumbing. Worker comfort matters for retention in large buildings, and we can design heating and air movement to reduce cold spots near dock doors. Our low voltage team installs network infrastructure, wireless coverage, surveillance and access control for the whole facility.
- Dock equipment power and controls
- Sortation and conveyor electrical
- Network and wireless coverage
- Security cameras and access control
Offices and amenities
Larger facilities need staff amenities, training rooms, supervisor stations and management offices. Our interior systems team, led by Brian Wright, builds these with framing, drywall, ceilings and millwork, and our painters and door crews finish them.
Plan for truck traffic and site circulation, because construction vehicles share the yard with your trucks. We set up safe routes, schedule deliveries to avoid peak times, and keep your site secure throughout the project.
Preparing for growth
Distribution centres rarely stay the same size. Where possible, we install extra conduit, spare electrical capacity and room for added dock doors during the first phase, since this is much cheaper than opening finished areas later.
Ask us for a short list of low-cost provisions that make a future expansion easier.