Great Kitchens

Carlson was selected to design and build a 300,000-square-foot USDA-compliant food production plant and corporate headquarters for Great Kitchens, Inc., a global frozen food manufacturer. The fast-tracked project featured a phased design to meet owner deadlines. The facility includes 35,000 square feet of office space, a 100,000-square-foot freezer, 30,000 square feet of production lines, 120,000 square feet of cooler space, 10,000 square feet of freezer shipping/receiving docks, and 5,000 square feet of mechanical space. 

To meet USDA and Homeland Security standards, the facility integrates advanced mechanical, electrical, security, and IT systems. A remote monitoring system safeguards freezer and cooler temperatures, while an in-house 40,000 GPD industrial wastewater treatment plant pre-treats high-BOD wastewater from cleaning processes. The facility also includes a redundant uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to ensure 24/7 operations, protecting high-value food products and powering site-wide security systems. 

Site work included utilities, parking for 255 vehicles, and a concrete truck court with 40 dock positions and staging for 80 trailers. Carlson has since completed four additional projects for Great Kitchens, including a mechanical treatment plant enclosure, a sauce cooling system, and a 5,000-square-foot office expansion. 

Carlson managed all site and construction work, self-performing 20% of tasks, including carpentry, moisture protection, flooring, and finishes, while subcontracting 80%, covering site work, structural steel, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, concrete, fire protection, and wastewater plant installation.