Lactalis - Refrigerated Distribution Centre

Location Oshawa, ON
Area 378 000 pi2
Status Completed, 2024

Centralizing and expanding distribution capacity

Lactalis Canada, which markets several popular dairy product brands (Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, P'tit Québec, Lactantia, Olympic, etc.), needed a new distribution centre to improve the capacity and efficiency of its supply chain. Following an analysis of the customer's needs and studies carried out by GKC, the 379,000 sq. ft. building was finally erected in Oshawa's Northwood Industrial Park and is Lactalis' largest distribution centre in Canada to date.

Project team

Jerry Coviensky

OAQ, OAA, AAA, AIBC, LEED AP

Emeritus Partner

Jerry Coviensky
Erdal Biberoglu

OAQ, OAA, PMP, LEED AP BD+C

Associate, Project Director

Erdal Biberoglu

Lactalis Canada had to meet a firm lease start date, so the project needed to be carried out in fast-track mode.

Erdal Biberoglu OAQ, OAA, PMP, LEED AP BD+C

Associate, Project Director

GKC expertise ensures rapid delivery

The team drew on its expertise in the conception of distribution centres to expedite its design and construction, while complying with numerous technical, environmental and aesthetic requirements. Designed and delivered in a record time of 13 months, the building features a large chilled goods area, a space for frozen products such as ice cream, an air-blast cooling chamber for products requiring rapid chilling, and office space.

Warehouse system adaptation and integration

Due to the high-density storage system’s unique characteristics, which uses shelving that is significantly deeper than is common, numerous tests and meetings were necessary to find a solution that suited both the client and the insurer in terms of safety. “By adjusting the sprinkler layout and ensuring adequate spacing between pallets, we were able to preserve the benefits of the storage setup while guaranteeing effective fire protection,” says Biberoglu

Reduced environmental footprint

Sustainable design was also an integral part of the project specifications. To meet the client’s requirements, GKC carried out studies and proposed various solutions aimed at reducing the building's carbon footprint, such as:

Energy-efficient lighting controls and equipment, as well as highly insulating materials, to reduce overall energy consumption and the electrical load on the refrigeration system.
A system for recovering the heat generated by the refrigeration system to warm the loading docks and the centre's offices.
A reflective white roof to mitigate the urban heat island effect. The roof and electrical system have also been designed to accommodate solar panels at a later date, which will eventually generate renewable energy, reducing the centre’s reliance on the electrical grid in specific conditions.

Meticulous exterior design

Special attention was given to the centre’s exterior: “We successfully demonstrated to the client that the City would likely require an enhanced façade for the building’s rear wall, which faces the street. The concept we presented was well received by both the municipality and the client, which contributed to meeting the project’s tight schedule,” notes Biberoglu. The concept uses gutters to divide the wall into vertical sections, breaking up its uniformity, while a horizontal band around the perimeter of the centre creates continuity.

The most distinctive feature is the use of curtain walls and coloured panels on the building envelope. “We couldn't use these materials directly on the centre's structure, as they would have compromised insulation, but by applying them as a 'second skin', we gave the building a distinctive appearance while respecting its operational constraints,” explains Biberoglu.