Wismer Distributing

Project summary provided by submitting company.

The Wismer Distributing project consists of a 100,000 SF, tilt-wall, cold environment warehouse and 30,000 SF of office space. The office space features high-end features following a Tuscan theme which include a clay tile roof, exposed wood beams, and brick accents throughout the office space. E.E. Reed Construction and Houston architect, Tramonte + Johnson were design/build partners on this project.

After operating in Baytown for nearly 60 years, the longtime Anheuser Busch beer distributor needed to expand. Due to zoning issues, the Owners decided to change locations and build in the nearby City of Mont Belvieu.

Wismer Distributing consisted of five major working areas - two levels of office areas, a Controlled Environment Warehouse, a maintenance building, and the site. During construction, our team was held accountable for the locations and activities of all trades onsite. To ensure oversight and safety of the contractors working onsite, the job was randomly audited by third party inspectors on a weekly basis to ensure compliance on more than 156 physical and mental safety concerns. The Compliance Alliance (TCA) is E.E. Reed's safety consultant which assists and consults in our quality, safety, and health programs and processes. The TCA Safety System takes safety and health systems and incorporates them directly into our product and service processes company-wide. In addition, all contractors were property trained and understood the daily hazards of the activities they were performing.

Beer brewers require that their products be maintained to certain standards throughout the United States. One of these standards is that the products are temperature controlled and monitored throughout the duration of the time the product is at the distributor. Our team recognized the importance of an efficient design from an upfront cost and long-term maintenance.

The Controlled Environment Warehouse (CEW) appears to be a standard tilt-wall warehouse, however, to maintain temperatures in the CEW, the exterior walls are constructed of insulated tilt panels. The tilt panels are site cast to include a "sandwiched" piece of insulation giving the exterior skin of the building an R value of 19.5.

To accommodate the set points set forth by the brewer and ensure efficiency and low maintenance, the mechanical systems are designed to include two high volume rotation units which chills 594,800 cases of 85 degree beer products to 69 degrees within 24 hours. The rotation units supply chilled water from two, 170 ton chillers operating in stages to ensure the product always has a redundant cooling system in the event of a mechanical issue. Since this design does not require typical ceiling hung evaporators, the Owner was able to recognize immediate savings with the roof structure and will be able to safely service the maintenance filter from the floor level.

Wismer's facility sits on 32.7 acres of land and was celebrated with a Grand Opening Parade and Party. In addition to several local dignitaries and project team members, the infamous Budweiser Clydesdales traveled from St. Louis to be in attendance. The project Owners are very happy with their new facility.