Hershey Midwest Distribution Center

The Hershey Midwest Distribution Center is a 1.1-million-square-foot warehouse facility that must maintain a temperature of approximately 60 degrees F. The constant 60 degree temperature that chocolate requires was ensured by an integrated system of tilt-up concrete, insulated metal panel construction, and 18 rooftop HVAC units. The team was challenged to provide a climate-controlled, durable warehouse environment for the nearly $1 billion of chocolate that would be shipped, stored, and received at the facility in any one day. The warehouse is divided into three sections with double tilt-up firewalls between sections, and an integrally insulated tilt-up wall on one end of the building. Mechanization equipment was included in the project in order to automate the shipment of goods from the facility. The $25 million project also features a two-story office with a stair tower/elevator shaft, as well as a truck receiving post and fire pump houses. Specialized concrete was also used throughout the warehouse to handle the immense rack loads Hershey required.