A Hunts Point food distribution center is getting a fresh look!
Jersey City-based land use consultancy, Dresdner Robin, completed its engineering and general design work on a $25 million, 110,000 square foot northeast expansion of the Baldor Specialty Foods headquarters, storage and distribution facility in Hunts Point on Tuesday, October 30.
Dresdner Robin partnered with the Jamaica, Queens-based architectural firm, Cybul Cybul Wilhelm, to design the project.
According to Joseph Mele, Dresdner Robin director of engineering, Dresdner Robin has been working closely with CCW to ensure its vision matches an ideal expansion for Baldor.
“We’ve worked with CCW on numerous projects and recognize the importance of a strong partnership between the engineering firm and architect on large projects such as this,” stated Mele.
The expansion will occupy a vacant 9.54 acre parcel owned by NYC Economic Development Corporation.
CCW designed the expansion to be connected to the existing two-story facility as part of its request for proposal by the EDC to lease the nearby Halleck Industrial Development parcel.
Baldor’s new parking lot will occupy the additional parcel while its new building is constructed on the existing parking lot.
In 2015, Dresdner Robin conceptualized a multi-phase plan and construction for the site.
The design increased floor space to 270,000 square feet, added 68 loading docks, established 300 new jobs, added over 50 new delivery trucks to accommodate additional production, provided 56,000 square feet of high-bay refrigerated storage and 25,000 square feet of office space accessible via a new two-story entrance with an elevator.
“Dresdner Robin’s incredible design added 42 loading docks and 300 parking spaces to the facility and they worked diligently to ensure construction did not interrupt our 24/7 operation,” expressed Michael Muzyk, Baldor president.
The expansion’s completed first phase is fully operational.
The second phase’s construction is nearly finished with 30 additional loading docks being added to the facility. It’s slated for completion by winter 2018.
Dresdner Robin collaborated with the city to gain approvals and permits on all construction and engineering services for the project.
“Baldor Specialty Foods has been a great partner to the south Bronx,” expressed Councilman Rafael Salamanca. “Since their move to Hunts Point in 2007, Baldor has generated thousands of good-paying jobs and given back to the community. I congratulate them on their expansion.”
Baldor is one of the largest importers and distributors of fresh produce and specialty foods in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions employing 1,600 people.
The company curates and delivers fresh produce, meats, dairy and organics to stores and restaurants within a 120-mile radius of its Hunts Point facility.
Baldor’s Hunts Point facility is located in the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center which consists of over 155 public and private wholesalers including the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market, the Cooperative Meat Market and the New Fulton Fish Market.
The Hunts Point Food Distribution Center generates over $3 billion in combined annual sales.
