Why You Should Partner with a Qualified Structural Prime for Your Distribution Center and Cold Storage Facility Design

The design and construction of a distribution center requires a diverse team of design professionals and contractors. From site design and architectural planning to structural, MEP, racking, and logistics, every discipline plays a crucial role in designing a successful facility. However, unlike most other building types, distribution centers place an exceptional emphasis on structural design. These large, highly functional buildings demand durable floors, vast wall areas, and optimized structural systems to support their operational requirements.

Cold storage facilities add another layer of complexity to distribution center design. Temperature control, insulation, and thermal envelope considerations must be incorporated into the structural design to ensure thermal efficiency. A well-designed cold storage facility requires knowledge in floor slabs, insulated wall construction, and specialized steel framing to support refrigeration systems and structure-hung equipment.

At Providence Engineering, we have been designing distribution centers and cold storage facilities for over 30 years across the United States and Canada. Working with owners, developers, architects, engineers, and contractors, we have successfully designed millions of square feet of distribution space. Our extensive experience has equipped us with the knowledge to deliver facility designs that are reliable, constructible, affordable, and timely.

Floor Slabs

Whether you are developing a speculative or build-to-suit distribution center, a flat, level, and durable floor slab is essential. With the increasing use of automated racking and picking equipment, rising building heights, and heightened client expectations, the demand for high-performance floor slabs has never been greater.

For cold storage facilities, the floor slab must be designed with temperature requirements in mind, utilizing a properly engineered assembly of insulation and heating elements to mitigate frost heave risks in freezing conditions. Providence Engineering has designed numerous projects featuring extended joint spacing, joint-free slabs, and insulated sub-slab assemblies to combat freezing temperatures in cold storage environments. Our team guides clients through the intricate details of floor slab design, considering construction methods and market influences to determine the most suitable solution for each project.

Floor slabs are one of our core specialties, backed by active participation in the American Concrete Institute (ACI) committees responsible for developing national standards for slab design and construction.

Tilt-Wall Construction

Tilt-wall construction is a cornerstone of distribution center design, providing both structural support and exterior enclosure. With experience in tilt-wall engineering, Providence Engineering offers knowledge that spans traditional tilt-wall design and emerging innovations such as insulated concrete sandwich panels.

Cold storage facilities, in particular, benefit from insulated tilt-wall construction, which enhances thermal performance and minimizes energy loss. As energy codes evolve, the demand for insulated sandwich panels has grown. While these panels offer advantages in specific applications, they are not always the best solution for every project. Our in-depth knowledge of tilt-wall systems enables us to guide clients toward the most effective approach, ensuring that their structural solutions align with both performance and cost-efficiency goals.

Structural Steel

A well-designed structural steel system is essential to creating a competitive and adaptable distribution center. For build-to-suit clients, we tailor our steel column grid and spacing to accommodate storage-racking requirements. For speculative developments, we design flexible structural systems that can support a wide range of potential tenants and racking configurations.

Cold storage facilities often require additional structural considerations, such as support for refrigeration systems, insulated roof structures, and strategic designs to maximize storage capacity. We also ensure that building heights meet the clear height requirements of modern racking systems, maximizing usable space and long-term functionality. With in-house capability of structural steel design, our team delivers solutions that keep distribution and cold storage centers competitive and future ready.

A Proven Partner in Distribution Center and Cold Storage Facility Design

At Providence Engineering, we believe that the best projects build upon lessons learned from past experience. By continuously embracing new technologies and innovative techniques, we enhance the planning, design, and construction of distribution centers and cold storage facilities to meet the evolving needs of our clients.

We recognize the challenges of today’s marketplace and approach each project with a commitment to constructability, affordability, and efficiency. Our mission is to be the Engineer of Choice and your Prime Design Partner for Distribution Centers and Cold Storage Facilities—delivering solutions that stand the test of time.


About the Author

Barton Foreman, P.E. – Vice President, Logistics and Cold Storage Facilities

Bart Foreman has designed millions of square feet of speculative and build-to-suit distribution and cold storage space. As a member of the American Concrete Institute, he contributes to setting national standards for concrete slab-on-ground and tilt-wall projects, ensuring reliable, constructible, affordable, and timely structural solutions for distribution centers and cold storage facilities.