Prologis Green Thumb

Summarize the project's program, features and achievements?

This high class distribution center was planned as a spec building to provide additional warehouse space in an underserved industrial area. Virgin sites in the area are non-existent and there has been a surge of redevelopment on brownfield sites to provide needed square footage and improve the aesthetics of the old rundown industrial sector. The building was fully leased by a single user before construction was complete - proving the need for such a facility in the area. It turned a rundown garden center into a new thriving distribution center.

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

The existing site was considered a brownfield site and needed remediation. The site was constrained on the east side by a major highway intersection. In addition there was a large detention pond on the east side that limited crane access on the site.

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

• The building site was an existing brownfield site that needed to be cleaned up before construction. The site was home to a garden center known as Paulino Gardens for over 60 years.
• The site was very compact and included a large detention pond that needed to be maintain and deepened to account for the new building
• The site was right at a major intersection on interstate 25 north of Denver which lent itself to high traffic visibility.
• To capitalize on the location visibility, tall unique corner entries with complicated geometries and lots of glass were created. Roof screening was also critical.
• The corner entries included trapezoidal panels that rested on a very small single leg and had to be balanced and tied to the adjacent structure.
• Large floating tilt-up panels were placed above the recessed glass entrance. These panels were supported at their base by the same steel that created an extremely thin profile, cantilevered canopy. Detailing and proper sequencing was critical to make this work.
• There were several sections around the building of full height glass that had to mesh with the tilt-up structure surrounding them. Spandrel glass and tube steel frames were used to support the glass instead of traditional curtain wall.
• Multiple roof heights were used across the front of the building to create interest and screening.