Guittard Chocolate

An expired lease and the pending delivery of 10 million pounds of chocolate necessitated a fast-track schedule for the 286,000-square-foot Guittard Chocolate facility in Fairfield, Calif., the Best in Class Industriall/Manufacturing winner in the 2003 Tilt-Up Achievement Awards.

Tilt-Up allowed not only for the fast-track 330 day construction schedule, but also for construction to begin before the design was complete.

Beyond speed of construction, Tilt-Up allowed for an unique architectural theme. The arcade panels and earth tone color schemes were incorporated into the building façade with the intent of making reference to Guittard’s original building in downtown San Francisco in the late 1800s. The façade is created with large arched panels, extensive concrete patios and stand-alone panels, as well as a 22,000-square-foot arcade/garden area that creates the formal entrance. A 5,000-square-foot penthouse with barrel-vaulted roof also is unique project feature.

Exterior insulated finish system (EIFS) or foam was used to create a formal look and break up the linear qualities of a large concrete building.