Collectively, The Hershey Company and The Korte Company have worked on a number of projects, including the 1.1 million-square-foot Hershey Midwest Distribution Center in Illinois as well as its 300,000-square-foot addition a few years later.
The newest food-grade facility resides on a 213-acre site just outside of Hershey, Pennsylvania, and measures 819,200 square feet. The bulk of the Design-Build Annville Fulfillment Center’s square footage (783,200 square feet) is dedicated to processing and storage operations. Offices comprise the remaining 36,000 square feet.
Because of the ambient sensitivity of chocolate, processing and storage areas are designed to maintain a constant temperature of 60 degrees and a maximum relative humidity of 50%. Additionally, the facility is protected with an emergency backup generator designed for 36 hours of facility operation.
The processing and storage area also features a clearance height of 39 feet and includes several mezzanines for parts storage, electrical substations and equipment processes. Type K shrinkage compensating concrete was used for the floor slab to maximize the quality and lifespan of the floor without the need for control joints.
The facility is Energy Star Certified and includes storage areas, a lithium-ion forklift charging station, 200,000-gallon fire water tank, pump house building and early suppression, fast response fire system with In-Rack sprinklers.
The scope of work also included a welcome center with a large canopy covering two inbound and outbound truck lanes as well as a free-standing guardhouse with turnstile gates for employee and visitor access.
