Cold storage warehouses are a vital part of the global supply chain, providing temperature-controlled environments to keep perishable products fresh and safe for consumers. Designing these facilities to maintain temperatures as low as -30°F or colder requires specialized structural solutions that go well beyond those of a typical warehouse.
Key construction details—such as double columns at interior walls separating temperature zones, thermal breaks beneath column base plates, and robust insulation for floors, walls, and roofs—must be carefully integrated with the architectural design to ensure thermal performance and maximize energy efficiency.
Wright Engineers’ team members have provided structural engineering services for cold storage facilities across the country, including projects approaching half a million square feet and reaching heights of up to 165 feet.
NAIOP SPOTLIGHT AWARDS
Wright Engineers recently joined friends and colleagues at the Red Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas to celebrate outstanding projects, companies, and individuals at the 28th annual NAIOP Southern Nevada Spotlight Awards gala. We are grateful to have provided structural engineering services for several projects that were contenders for honor awards—and thrilled to share that four of those projects took home top honors:
- Popstroke – Retail Building category (Client: Parkway Construction)
- The Healing Center at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children – Special Use category
- Cirrus Company – Office TI Under 10,000 SF category
- Meridian – Office Building category
Ed Vance & Associates Architects served as the architect for The Healing Center, Cirrus Company, and Meridian projects.
Wright Engineers was also proud to be nominated for Engineering Firm of the Year.
Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees!
WHICH CODE IS IT ANYWAY?
Nearly every municipality in the country has adopted the International Building Code (IBC)—or their own customized version—as their official building code. Every three years, a new edition of the IBC is published to reflect updates in construction materials, methods, technologies, and improvements to safety and performance. The 2024 IBC is the latest edition, and while some municipalities have already adopted it (or are in the process of doing so), many choose to skip cycles or delay adoption.
This means your municipality may still be working under a much older edition. In some states, every city adopts the same edition at the same time. In others, neighboring cities might be operating under codes that are several cycles apart, with local amendments that differ significantly.
For any project, knowing which code applies—including any local amendments, upcoming adoptions, and grace periods for projects already in design—is crucial to staying on track. Your local building official is an excellent resource for this information. And of course, we are always here to help and advise.