Okanagan Specialty Fruits Company Controlled Atmosphere Warehouse

Summarize the project's program, features and achievements?

The Okanagan Specialty Fruits Controlled Atmosphere Warehouse is a 110,000-square-foot cold storage facility designed and constructed with precision to meet the complex requirements of modern food preservation. Featuring 29 controlled atmosphere interior rooms, this project was an intensive effort that demanded high-performance materials, specialized logistics, and seamless coordination from start to finish.

A defining aspect of this facility is its innovative use of tilt-up construction, incorporating both insulated and structural wall panels for performance and efficiency. The project featured both insulated and non-insulated wall panels, all carefully engineered to provide optimal durability and thermal control.

Panel erection was completed in two strategic phases—first to meet casting space limitations and second to keep other trades on schedule. Altogether, the project was cast, finished, placed, and erected in just 218 working days.

The success of the OSF project reflects the collaborative spirit and technical skill of the project team, blending thoughtful design with construction efficiency to deliver a state-of-the-art facility that supports the future of food storage.

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

One of the most significant challenges was the limited available casting space. To maintain the project schedule and allow other trades to begin their work without delays, the team implemented a two-phase panel erection strategy. This phased approach ensured continuous progress, even with spatial constraints.

The volume of panels needed—253 total—required efficient onsite stacking. Structural panels were stacked up to five high, and insulated panels up to three high, demanding careful load planning and coordination to prevent damage and maintain schedule integrity.

A unique specification for a broom finish on both the floor slabs and the exterior panel faces introduced concerns about panel release during stripping. To solve this, the team collaborated with NOX-Crete to select a compatible bond breaker that ensured clean releases, avoiding costly delays and rework.

Maintaining crane access around the perimeter and through interior corridors required detailed layout planning. This complexity was addressed through tight coordination across trades and clear site logistics.

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

The facility used two types of tilt-up panels:

• 68 insulated panels, each 13½ inches thick, incorporating Leviat’s Thermomass System for energy-efficient thermal performance.
• 185 non-insulated structural panels, each 7¼ inches thick, engineered for strength and stability.

The largest panel weighed 97,000 pounds and was engineered for an 8-point pick, requiring a customized rigging strategy and advanced lifting inserts from MeadowBurke to ensure safe and controlled installation.

Engineering a successful bond breaker solution for casting against a broom-finished surface was no small feat. The team worked directly with NOX-Crete to test and implement a surface-compatible release agent, ensuring the architectural finish didn’t compromise functionality.

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

By utilizing high-performance insulated wall panels, this facility enhances cold storage efficiency—directly supporting food waste reduction and improving the shelf life of perishable goods.

The warehouse plays a key role in the post-harvest process for Okanagan Specialty Fruits, helping local growers extend market reach and profitability, which in turn supports jobs and economic activity in the region.

Through the use of tilt-up concrete construction and integrated thermal systems, the building reduces operational energy usage—contributing to lower carbon output over its lifecycle compared to traditional cold storage builds.