Project Overview
Located in the Bronx, N.Y., just a five-minute drive from the Upper East Side of Manhattan, the Bronx Logistics Center (BLC) is a modern marvel of engineering and construction. With more than 1 million ft2 of total space and 585,000 ft2 of warehouse area, BLC provides users with ample access to storage and parking. Tenant possibilities are endless, as BLC is capable of supporting standard retail and e-commerce inventory space, delivery logistics operations, cold storage, and more. To make this gargantuan project possible, developer Turnbridge Equities, project architect and engineer Desman, and Unistress Corp. chose a precast concrete solution including double tees, Northeast extreme tee (NEXT) beams, columns, shear walls, girders, spandrels, and other components.
Breaking the Rules
Building the largest logistics center in a heavily populated city involved many challenges. Namely, the project team had to determine how to design an elevated truck court capable of supporting 500 pounds per square foot of loading, enough clear span for trucks to maneuver, and a lateral system that could support the entire structure in what was deemed a poor seismic environment. These challenges were met through the deployment of a 100% precast concrete system. Specialty shear walls, IT beams, columns, and tee beams were used, along with NEXT beams, which are typically used in bridge construction. The innovative nature of the solution devised sets a new standard for multilevel distribution center projects moving forward.
Beyond being the only solution that could meet the project’s lofty goals, precast concrete brought a variety of other advantages to BLC. Namely, the material’s flexibility of design allowed for the creation of massive floor plates—the two-story structure features 32-ft-high clear height on both floors. Additionally, more than 1,700 precast concrete components were produced off site and delivered on an as-needed basis. This “just-in-time” delivery arrangement expedited the construction schedule, reduced the need for on-site crews, and lowered costs.
With a massive footprint, groundbreaking innovation, and a unique design, BLC is a testament to the extraordinary power and versatility of precast concrete products.
Mason Nichols is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based writer and editor who has covered the precast concrete industry since 2013.
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