New Riverfront Cold Storage Facility at Henry Clay Avenue Terminal
Historic Contract Awarded to The McDonnel Group, LLC
In May 2010, the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans approved the first design-build contract in the history of the Port of New Orleans. The McDonnel Group, LLC, in a joint venture with Primus Builders, Inc., of Atlanta, Ga., was awarded a $24+ million-dollar contract to build a new riverfront cold storage facility at the Henry Clay Avenue Terminal.
“Obviously, we’re pleased to have been chosen for the Port’s first design-build project and we are very aware how critical the project is in terms of economic impact for the region,” said Allan McDonnel, President of The McDonnel Group.
Twenty-one contractors responded to the Request for Qualifications, where each contractor’s previous experience with designing and building refrigerated storage facilities, maritime facilities, public projects and other business aspects were evaluated. The McDonnel Group was ranked number one in the RFQ process and proceeded with two other contractors to the Request for Technical Proposals (RFP) stage. Alan Thriffiley, Manager, The McDonnel Group, says the company formed a joint venture with Primus Builders, Inc., to leverage Primus’ significant expertise in building cold storage facilities and ensure the best design effort.
The ultimate tenant, New Orleans Cold Storage (NOCS), has been without a deepwater port facility since Hurricane Katrina. In the new warehouse, temperature-sensitive products will arrive via trucks at the 140,000 square-foot facility for blast-freezing and/or cold storage. Up to 35 million pounds of product will be stored between –15 degrees and +40 degrees Fahrenheit. The operation will be capable of blast-freezing 1.2 million pounds of product in 20 hours or less. Afterward, the product is delivered via dockside handling into refrigerated ships berthed at the Nashville Avenue Wharf “A” and Henry Clay Avenue Wharf—all within 60 feet of the new building.
Greater Operating Efficiencies Projected
As The McDonnel Group developed its design proposal, they evaluated the existing process and considered improvements that would provide far reaching benefits. Thriffiley said the ingenuity of the McDonnel proposal is outstanding.
The new design vastly improves and streamlines workflow in the facility. The receiving docks, blast freezing cells, conveyors, and cold storage rooms will be aligned so it will take less time to do the work. The McDonnel-designed footprint is also smaller, resulting in reduced construction costs.
Currently forklift operators continually drive in and out of the building to move pallets of product. This allows the hot, humid, Gulf Coast breezes to wreak havoc with the building’s energy costs. The new conveyor systems are designed to move product in and out of the warehouse through much smaller openings and don’t require forklifts to enter or leave the building to accomplish that.
“The energy savings are exciting,” Thriffiley said. “With our design, temperatures will remain more stable so it will cost less to maintain the proper ambient temperature. On a day-to-day basis, the new facility will cost less to operate.”
A bi-product of moving in and out of the building in New Orleans’ steamy temperatures is condensation. It’s a significant issue and great pains were taken to address condensation. Thriffiley states, “The new building will produce as little waste water as possible.”
Contract Signed, Design Begun
While the existing building is demolished and repairs are made to the wharf, The McDonnel Group is busy in the building design stage. Thriffiley expects to mobilize this fall, and The McDonnel Group and Primus Builders will have 414 days to complete the warehouse.
Follow the building’s progress at www.mcdonnel.com.
