Cargo Largo

Summarize the project's program, features and achievements?

Cargo Largo's new headquarters, a state-of-the-art facility serving Independence, Missouri is both a retail outlet and an e-commerce business. The 560,000 square-foot structure consists of insulated concrete tilt panels reaching heights of up to 54 feet, with the heaviest panel amounting to 240,000 pounds. This expansive facility consolidates six buildings in Cargo Largo's current operation to function under a single roof. The building envelope incorporates 46 dock doors and three drive-in doors serving the high volume of consumer products being shipped to and from the facility daily. Anticipating future needs, the building envelope features 51 future knock-out panels within the concrete tilt walls providing future functionality for a double-loaded dock. Providing an aesthetic to the building, decorative cornices are supported by the tilt panels along the main entrance and street front facades, while aluminum-clad canopies, supported by concrete tilt columns, provide a sense of depth to the main ingress and egress point to both clientele and staff.

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

By utilizing structural tilt walls, it allowed for an open floor plan divided into an approximate 50'x 50' column bay spacing creating flexibility on the interior layout. Strategically placed, the facility consists of 88,000 SF of concrete deck mezzanines that support material handling equipment, material storage and the corporate office headquarters. The material handling equipment comprised of an extensive network of conveyors, catwalks, and associated equipment, presented a unique design challenge. A significant portion of the system relied on the support from the roof joists, requiring tedious engineering and structural planning to ensure optimal functionality and safety. Adequate bracing for additional points loads on the joists had to be designed and coordinated at specific locations to support the equipment. The tilt walls provided ready, flexible support for this interior equipment at the perimeter of the building.

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

The exterior insulated concrete tilt walls are comprised of 8 ½" structural wythe, 2" rigid insulation and 2 ¾" exterior architectural wythe. The load-bearing structural wythe required the support for both roof framing and interior mezzanine structures. The roof structure is comprised of open web steel joist girders and joists with interior HSS steel columns in a 57' x 50' grid.

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

Cargo Largo has called Independence, MO home for over six decades, but it's much more than a company address. Cargo Largo is deeply committed to making a positive impact by investing in the community, employing over 500 community members within the new facility, and driving economic growth to the city. In addition, Cargo for Kids – the company's signature non-profit initiative – annually provides backpacks full of essential school supplies and hygiene items to the children of the Independence School District. The new headquarters and retail space is a shopping destination and a true testament to Cargo Largo's commitment to the customer experience and community impact.