HANOVER, MD-Preston Scheffenacker Properties has reached an agreement with Coca-Cola Refreshments USA to build a $24-million distribution warehouse for the beverage giant here.

The build-to-suit 291,000-square-foot warehouse at 7210 Preston Gateway Drive will be the first property to be developed in Scheffenacker's Preston Gateway North project, an expansion of its Preston Gateway Corporate Park.

The new project will mean Coke will relocate from its current distribution facility totaling 272,000 square feet on Candlewood Road, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

Coca-Cola decided to move its regional distribution hub because it wanted to would maximize efficiency. "The biggest thing is we have 32 docks — 16 on one side and 16 on the other — and our truck lot is not large enough" at the Candlewood Road facility, Mike Vogel, manager of Coke's distribution center, says. "If you look at our efficiencies and consideration for the future, the new building has a larger lot. We worked very closely with the developer because of the movement considerations with ingress and egress to the property and the heartbeat of the facility—the design is very critical." See story in the Baltimore Business Journal.