Charlotte, N.C. – A M King, a leading Integrated Design-Build firm, was recognized by Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas (ABC Carolinas) this month for its exemplary delivery of ALDI’s Regional Headquarters and Distribution megafacility in Loxley, AL. At the 2023 ABC Carolinas Excellence in Construction (EIC) Awards gala held on November 9 in Charlotte, A M King was presented with a “Best in Class” Eagle Award – ABC’s highest-level award in the Industrial/Over $50 million category – and was singled out with the exclusive 2023 Carolinas Design-Build Award. Furthermore, A M King was a Finalist for ABC’s 2023 Project of the Year.
A M King provided property consulting for ALDI US, one of America’s fastest-growing retailers, and designed and built their regional flagship facility, which will serve as a blueprint for future ALDI locations as the company expands in the Southeast and across the country. The nearly 600,000-sf Gulf Coast operation services more than 100 stores in southern Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and the Florida panhandle—marking the company’s presence in 38 states.
“I want to congratulate our experienced design and construction professionals for a job well done in delivering this complex project while meeting our longtime client’s critical deadline for shipping product,” said A M King Vice President Dan Crist. “Winning the coveted ABC Eagle Award plus the Carolinas Design-Build Award is extremely rewarding for A M King and the entire Design-Build team.”
Having won at the Carolinas chapter level, A M King became eligible to compete in ABC’s National EIC Awards competition for which winners will be announced in March 2024.
Earlier this year, A M King won an Award of Merit for the ALDI-Loxley project in Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) Best Projects Awards competition for the Southeast region.
Project Details | ALDI Loxley Regional Headquarters and Distribution Facility
A M King worked in tandem with ALDI to determine adequate site infrastructure requirements. The property needed to be large enough, buildable and strategically located. Ultimately, A M King assisted ALDI in acquiring a 150-acre site just north of Interstate 10, conveniently located between Mobile, AL. and Pensacola, FL. and 25 miles from Gulf Shores, AL.
The conception of this facility is a continuation of the retailer’s efforts to maximize the efficiency of their operations through facility design. Several new elements have been incorporated into the Loxley facility for efficiency, including:
- Use of insulated metal panels (IMP) in lieu of concrete tilt or precast concrete exterior panels. The warehouse is fully designed with 6” thick IMP, creating a thermally tight and efficient building envelope.
- Optimum racking organization, determined by product analysis from storage and flow perspectives.
- First ALDI distribution center to utilize cross-docking services.
- Floor-to-ceiling curtain wall around two sides of the two-story office permits large amounts of natural light to filter into the space. Large, unobstructed areas of glazing at the office allow all employees to have outdoor views.
- Restrooms, locker rooms and maintenance for both ambient temperature and cooler and freezer employees are housed in the central core of the building.
Notable sustainability initiatives in the building include:
- A full solar panel array over the dry warehouse, which sends surplus energy back into the grid.
- Drive-in style dock doors in the perishable docks provide a much better seal for a thermally tight building.
- Clerestory windows surround the dry portion of the warehouse, allowing natural light to help offset the lighting needs within the area.
- Full LED lighting throughout the entire building and site improves energy efficiency.
The scope of work on the Loxley facility included 216,781 sf of Dry (Ambient Temperature) Storage; 22,022 sf of 55-degree Storage; 65,674 sf of 34-degree Cooler Storage; 12,914 sf of 30-degree Meat Storage; 27,975 sf of 0-degree Freezer; 4,957 sf of -10-degree Ice Cream Freezer; 45,779 sf of Perishable Inbound/Outbound Dock with 38 dock positions; 82,304 sf Dry Inbound/Outbound Dock with 49 dock positions; and 24,679 sf of Class A office spaces.
