Barker Logistics Center 1

Summarize the project's program, features and achievements?

Barker Logistics Center 1 is the first of a four-building development in a new, high profile industrial zone in Spokane Valley, WA. This flagship building is designed to impress! It boasts of 131,960 square feet of floor area and has a clear storage height of 36'-0", the highest in the region. The Owners also wanted to draw attention to the building visually with a very modern design, gravity-defying corner spandrels, and a sleek paint scheme.

With high storefronts at each of the eight possible tenant entrances, there is the ability for 2-story office spaces, if desired. Also, larger tenants can take advantage of a cross-dock layout, with (48) 9'x10' dock height doors and (8) 12'x14' on-grade doors, overall.

The Owners wanted to further set themselves apart in the market by providing the most energy efficient warehouse possible. The building is design above the already stringent Washington State Energy Code to LEED Certified specifications, with concrete sandwich panels, including 3" rigid insulation, High performance glazing, high-efficiency gas heaters, and LED lighting on motion sensors. EV charging stations are also available for use.

What obstacles were overcome related to the schedule, budget, program, specification, site, etc. on this project?

The balancing act of the developer's desire to achieve the most energy efficient and eco friendly design, cutting edge appearance with a budget that kept them competitive with other lower performing projects in the market. To achieve this lofty goal, all systems were analyzed and efficiency of products and performance was key. The result was smaller HVAC system components that delivered the same performance and reduced energy consumption.

Please communicate any engineering complexities or unique features of the panel design for this project?

This building was designed with large L shape concrete spandrel overhangs above the storefronts (11' tall with a 7' wide integral horizontal leg). In the corners, they were to look as if they are weightless, without any corner columns exposed. This presented an engineering challenge on how to support the structures but also an erection challenge through construction. The elegant solution provided a sequence of support where one spandrel supported the other, with a single column support hidden behind the storefronts. On the other end of the spandrels, the depth of the entries returned and created what we coined as the “bucket panels". These panels were complex, with a narrow face and varying depths of return, that were poured vertically as walls on the ground. These 3-sided panels were heavy and hard to plumb on the shims due to the narrow profile and multiple bearing points.

What is the potential for this project's impact on the community and/or environment?

In the competitive market of warehouse space, this building has raised the bar. Not only through aesthetic design, but also by reducing energy consumption and waste. It was worth the extra effort to have a better building that can compete at market rents.