INDIANAPOLIS—The Opus Group has just completed a 1.6 million-square-foot distribution center for Omaha-based ConAgra Foods in Frankfort, IN, about 46 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Although the state's leading city is also one of the most active distribution hubs in the US, Opus officials say the small city of Frankfort had other advantages.
“Although it is not necessarily more common for distribution centers in general to be located on the periphery of big hubs, the sites that are able to accommodate facilities similar in size to ConAgra's are typically only found on the periphery of big hubs or outside primary markets,” Doug Swain, vice president and general manager, Opus Development Co., LLC, tells GlobeSt.com.
"ConAgra was looking for a site that was large enough to accommodate this project and that was rail served,” he adds. “They selected Frankfort because it fulfilled both of those critical components by offering 300-acres of rail-connected land.”
The distribution center includes 15,000 square feet of office space, 34' clear height in the warehouse, 125 dock doors, 10 rail doors and more than 850 trailer parking spaces.
“Our design-build process enabled us to complete this immense project on an expedited timeline with ConAgra moving into their new facility only 16 months after they selected the Frankfort site as the location that would best fit their specific business needs,” says Craig Larson, regional vice president, Opus Design Build, LLC.
ConAgra will house more than 200 employees in the facility and use it to consolidate its Midwest distribution network. Shipments to customers began in July.
“A project as significant as ConAgra Foods is to the City of Frankfort takes teamwork, hard work and dedication,” says Mayor Chris McBarnes. “The Opus team's professionalism, expertise and responsiveness played a vital role in helping to establish ConAgra Foods as a valued Frankfort corporate citizen. Our community is forever changed thanks to their efforts and caring commitment.”
Opus Development Company, LLC was the developer, Opus Design Build, LLC was the design-builder, and Opus AE Group, LLC served as the designer and architect and engineer of record.
Opus' recent portfolio of work includes 6.8 million square feet of industrial developments currently in its pipeline or completed in the past 18 months across the US.
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Brian J. Rogal
Brian J. Rogal is a Chicago-based freelance writer with years of experience as an investigative reporter and editor, most notably at The Chicago Reporter, where he concentrated on housing issues. He also has written extensively on alternative energy and the payments card industry for national trade publications.
