Food Processing
Getting three months’ worth of work done in two months is no easy task. But, thanks to a combination of experience, tenacity, and trusted partnerships, our team was able to pull it off during the late fall/winter months of 2016-2017.
As the second largest producer of chicken worldwide, Pilgrim’s Pride is a globally recognized name that gained even more prominence when Costco invested millions so they could process chicken and distribute it exclusively through their warehouses. As such, East & Westbrook was contracted by Whiting-Turner Contracting Company to help expand the Pilgrim’s Pride plant in North Carolina to meet the new production goals for Costco. The ambitious expansion project came with a strict deadline and we were challenged to complete our portion of the project within a tight 3-month window.
With the fast-approaching deadline, our team quickly got to work in November 2016. Construction took place right in the heart of a multi-million dollar facility operating 24 hours a day, which presented some unique scheduling challenges. Our team proceeded with confidence, working increasingly odd hours – sometimes pouring slabs overnight – and always in the midst of constant external traffic and production. To complete the job, the crew worked 6-7 day work weeks, often working 12 to 14 hours each day.
The project itself was a 22,000 ft² wash bay expansion building for the plant’s recently implemented CO2 chambers. East & Westbrook’s work consisted of shallow foundations, 12” thick concrete slabs, extensive integral trenches, elevated slabs, interior CIP walls, site concrete, and demolition work. With the help of East & Westbrook, the project was ultimately finished by mid-January, one month ahead of schedule.
A Multi-Team Effort
Having worked together on projects in the past, the Whiting-Turner team was quite familiar with our exceptional track record of meeting deadlines with the highest quality work. We were honored to be trusted with such a massive yet time-sensitive project, and thankful that so many notable contractors consider us a reliable and dependable construction partner.
This ambitious project was yet another testament to the focus and integrity of East & Westbrook’s team.
