Ferrero Distribution Centre

Location: 3 Ferrero Blvd. Brantford, ON

Vicano was awarded this design-build 497,000 sq.ft. building and sitework with a strict deadline of 12 months to completion. Vicano broke ground on February 1st, 2012 and obtained substantial performance just 12 months later on January 31st, 2013!

The project included a temperature and humidity controlled-environment warehouse, designed to Factory Mutual (FM Global) guidelines, with a clear unobstructed height of 39′-0″ to accommodate 7 levels of pallet racking.

Forty-Seven dock positions will serve the shipping / receiving needs of the near 80,000 pallet positions in the building.

A shrinkage-compensating super flat concrete floor was utilized throughout the warehouse for greater durability and to minimize concrete curling and reduce the amount of joints (sawcuts) by 90%.

A combination of architectural precast concrete walls and insulated metal panels make up the building envelope, with extensive use of insulated metal partitions within the building to maintain a superior air barrier.

The complex HVAC system is controlled by 14 custom built Air Handling Units and 2 Dehumidfication units on the exterior of the building, energized by chilled water, hot water, and high pressure steam from the existing power house on the property.

The roof system is a 60 mil TPO membrane with a thermal resistance rating of R-30. The roof also includes provisions for future solar panels

The building also features 2-storey office to accommodate separate warehousing parties, including private offices, large conference rooms, locker rooms, lunch rooms, and barrier-free accessible washrooms.

Sitework included full underground site services including the construction of a new Storm Water Management (SWM) pond, a 10″ firemain water loop, over 1,000 m3 of armour stone retaining walls, 80,000 m2 of landscaped area and heavy-duty parking for 133 truck trailers.

Other aspects of the project included the design and construction of a pedestrian walkway bridge, renovation of an existing guardhouse, and an exterior structure to facilitate a future monorail link from the existing production building.