Address: 2261 US-301, Tampa, FL 33619
Work: KENPAT provided exterior and interior framing, insulation, drywall, finishing, acoustical ceilings, aluminum composite material (ACM) panels, EIFS
General Contractor: The Haskell Company
Dates: May 23, 2023 – Sept. 19, 2024
Coca Cola Distribution Center
Situation
Coca-Cola sought to consolidate and expand its regional distribution capabilities with a new facility designed to improve logistics, collaboration, and operational flow. The master-planned site featured five buildings: a main distribution facility, an auto guardhouse, a fire pumphouse, a fleet and field services building, and a truck guardhouse. The main building housed warehouse, office, and assembly space. This broad and varied program presented significant coordination challenges, particularly across scopes involving structural framing, acoustical systems, and exterior architectural finishes.
Task
KENPAT was tasked with completing the full scope of framing, insulation, drywall, and finishing for the expansion. This included:
• Interior and exterior framing
• Installation of more than 5,000 sheets of drywall
• 120,000 linear feet of metal studs
• 140,000 square feet of insulation
• 45,000 square feet of acoustical ceilings
• ACM panel fabrication and installation
• Exterior stucco and EIFS systems
Action
The main building required KENPAT to coordinate construction across diverse functional areas, including over 684,000 square feet of warehouse space and more than 37,000 square feet of assembly and office space. The soaring clerestory at the main lobby presented framing and sheathing complexities, while exterior elements like the ACM-paneled break area and stucco-wrapped clerestory enhanced aesthetics and durability.
Beyond the main building, KENPAT performed framing, drywall, and finish work on:
• A 51,266 SF Fleet and Field Services Building
• A 917 SF Truck Guardhouse
• A 150 SF Auto Guardhouse with
a 1,286 SF metal-framed canopy
• An 883 SF Fire Pumphouse
Each building required a tailored approach to framing, insulation, and ceilings to meet both performance and aesthetic goals.
Midway through the project, Haskell requested the introduction of a new ACM panel system to enhance the exterior design. KENPAT collaborated with its in-house design team and affiliated company, N-RG Cladding, to develop an engineered ACM solution that integrated seamlessly with the framing system. The redesign was developed, engineered, and fabricated in-house, allowing KENPAT to preserve project momentum while ensuring cohesive integration with the framing scope.
In the office areas, the team installed 45,000 square feet of acoustical ceilings. Given the massive HVAC infrastructure required for the facility’s scale, ceiling coordination was a major concern—especially with numerous coffered ceiling details. KENPAT’s team proactively coordinated with other trades to ensure ceiling installation remained on schedule and met quality standards.
Result
Despite a complex, evolving scope and a multi-building footprint, KENPAT completed the project on time.
The internal ACM redesign effort mitigated the impact of late-stage changes, and field crews maintained alignment with the construction schedule across all five buildings. KENPAT's ability to directly contract and perform multiple scopes under one roof (drywall, ACM and EIFS), enabled a high level of consistency in quality and accountability.
The completed facility is a best-in-class distribution center that fulfilled the client’s vision and operational goals. City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, in a 2022 press release, called the project “incredible” and said it would “jumpstart growth and so much more development and bring other businesses into our community.”