Crossroads Logistics Center Building 7: Frito Lay

Summarize the project's program, features and achievements?

Located within the Crossroads Logistics Center, this 156,000-square-foot facility plays a critical role in Frito-Lay’s supply chain, serving as the last stop between manufacturing and retail. The building includes a large warehouse, administrative office space, and 37 fully outfitted dock positions tailored to Frito-Lay’s proprietary equipment needs. The new facility replaces an outdated retrofit, increasing Frito-Lay’s distribution capacity by 40%. It also improves day-to-day experience for employees through better circulation, truck access, and workspace design.

The facility design respected the architectural context of existing park buildings, while delivering a customized interior that aligns with Frito-Lay’s strict operational standards.

Every element of the project—from racking-ready ceilings to seamless dock integrations—was built with future adaptability and growth in mind. The result is a high-performing space that supports logistics at scale while contributing to Austin’s industrial momentum.

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

This project had to navigate the distinct (and sometimes competing) goals of both the developer and the tenant. The developer required aesthetic and layout consistency with the broader business park, while the tenant had precise operational demands, especially for dock layout, parking, and interior workflow.

Weekly meetings and constant communication helped manage evolving priorities and ensure no detail was lost between architectural integrity and functionality. A particularly complex challenge was reconciling the developers recessed downspout design with Frito-Lay’s dock configuration—solved through a custom steel cover solution tested on-site before replication.

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

To accommodate Frito-Lay’s tall racking systems, all MEP systems were carefully routed along the ceiling to maximize vertical clearance without disrupting operations. This required detailed coordination during design and preconstruction to avoid spatial conflicts.

The 37 dock doors were outfitted with Frito-Lay’s proprietary equipment, requiring precise tolerances. The team resolved architectural constraints—like existing downspouts interfering with dock placement—by designing a custom-fabricated steel downspout cover, which was painted to match the building and tested on-site before replication.

Three strategically placed storefronts were added—two on architectural corners and one at the midpoint—allowing the building to be easily subdivided into up to four tenant spaces, increasing its long-term value and adaptability.