ULINE W8 & I7 Warehouse and Distribution Center projects undeterred by pandemic

Hunzinger Construction served as construction manager for the site development and new construction of two warehouse and distribution centers for Uline.

Despite the pandemic, Hunzinger kept the site open and working — and even delivered the buildings to the owner two months early.

When Hunzinger broke ground in late March 2020, the project site’s 110 undeveloped acres required significant infrastructure work: storm-water management, grading and infrastructure improvements and new site utilities and paving.

Hunzinger’s virtual design and construction coordination helped with the coordination of architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-protection work.

The two buildings are: W8, a more than 1 million-square-foot multi-function warehouse and distribution center with offices for support functions; and “I7,” a 647,000-square-foot distribution center and warehouse. Hunzinger also managed the expansion of Uline’s central utility plant to provide space for two backup generators.

These were Hunzinger’s third of four projects on Uline’s Kenosha campus. W8 is the largest of several immense warehouses on the campus, having a 91,500-pound generator, 272 dock doors, 981 skylights, and 4,224 high-bay light fixtures. The I7 building has an additional 590 skylights. Rooftop HVAC units and various gas-piping systems were delivered using 400 helicopter picks.

The project’s truck courts have 27,200 yards of concrete, the interior building has 45,484 yards of concrete and its pond area occupies 11.85 acres. One of its retaining ponds is large enough to be classified as a lake.

At Uline’s request, Hunzinger and its subcontractor team were able to shorten the schedule by three months. Uline wanted early occupancy to begin stocking product but, because of material shortages and supply-chain disruptions, was unable to obtain its racking in time. Even so, they were able to move in two months early.

Full occupancy came at the end of July 2021. Eppstein Uhen Architects served as the project architect; Pierce Engineers (structural), Pinnacle Engineering Group (civil), and Ring & DuChateau (MEP) rounded out the design team.

The project was completed with no lost-time accidents and — pandemic or not — no job-site shutdowns.