Baldor Foods

EXPANDING THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR

Baldor Specialty Foods in the Bronx approached Dresdner Robin with a unique challenge. They wanted to expand their existing 193,587 square-foot food manufacturing and distribution facility, while maintaining complete and uninterrupted operations during the adjoined building expansion. The project would increase the number of loading dock doors from 49 to 91 and provide for an additional 300-space truck parking lot on an adjacent 10-acre wooded parcel owned by the New York City Economic Development Corp.

There were a number of constraints and challenges. The site had some environmental issues – it was previously home to Con Ed’s Hunts Point Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP), also known as Hunts Point Coking Station.

In addition, a 42-inch high-pressure live gas line bisected the site from the adjoining Con Edison site. Various other existing utilities in the area required relocation, including a storm water force main and sanitary sewer pipes. The site was extremely flat with shallow groundwater (approximately 4 feet deep) with unmapped subsurface obstructions from the former MGP facility including vast concrete pile caps and timber piles.

Persistent and rigorous assistance from Dresdner Robin and the project architect was necessary to avoid delays, cost overruns, and construction defects. As challenges arose, the client continued to rely on our expertise to solve them during the design, permitting, and construction processes. Today, the project is operational with no detectable impact to the facility’s ongoing operation.