Recently, the Lancaster-based distribution center of United Natural Foods was presented with LEED Gold Certification for their newly constructed facility. ARCO Design/Build, located in Atlanta, achieved the design and construction operation for the distribution center.
This Lancaster facility is the 18th construction project accomplished by ARCO Design/Build for UNFI and the third project to be distinguished with LEED Gold certification. The combined design and build operation of UNFI and ARCO has also been represented in the other LEED Gold Certified distribution centers at Ridgefield, WA in 2007 and York, PA in 2008.
According to the President of ARCO Design/Build, Mark Mummert, the Lancaster facility is another manifestation of UNFI's commitment to environmentally sustainable projects with excellent performance.
This project’s initiation of construction started in 2010, and progressed with energy conservation and sustainability as its chief objective. The construction project by ARCO Design/Build included overhaul for the existing building. The modification included ESFR fire protection for dry storage, 89,000 sq.ft of ammonia refrigerated space, double interlock preaction fire protection for cold storage, and to retrofit 21,338 sq.ft of 2-story office space. ARCO Design/Build engineered and built another 27,000 sq.ft of cooler/freezer space, following the completion of this project.
The sustainability features of the first phase accomplished building encompass the inclusion of solar panels for two dock levelers; More than 97% of Energy Star rated office equipments and appliances, energy reduction of 30% and lighting power conservation of 18%; more than 35% of water conservation facilitated with motion-activated sensors, rainwater recovery cistern and flow controls; utilization of recycled content for 20% of the building materials; proper recycling and reuse of around 75% of construction waste materials; incorporation of energy-efficient and eco-friendly Ammonia-based refrigeration system.
Source: http://www.arcodb.com/