Running the Survey

An industrial building is designed with the product it manufactures in mind. Each piece of heavy machinery must have a foundation base. Each support beam must allow for adequate spacing of the equipment, assembly lines, packaging, offices and break rooms. Carlson Products' production plant is a working machine in itself, creating various fabricated metal parts, food service applications, kennels, coolers, doors and prototypes.

Laying the Foundation

Working for the owner as both the designer and builder, our team was involved from the very beginning. We listened closely to the owner’s needs and desires, which allowed us to design an innovative and functional facility exactly as they requested. Because Carlson Products is optimistic about future growth, we designed a roof that would easily allow for future additions to the building. Early in the design process we provided a couple of budget options to the owner. One included the full “wish list” and the other was a “no frills” budget. This allowed them to determine how best to allocate their investment. One significant item was that the break room be designed to also serve as a storm shelter for all employees.

The Finishing Touches

One might think that a pre-engineered building requires less design or detailing. If used in a manufacturing setting, it may have less aesthetic finish detail, but no less functional detail. The building’s purpose is not to display products, but to create and assemble them. Building a good foundation is the beginning to a great building. Pre-cast concrete, equipment bases, loading docks, slab flooring and the storm shelter are functional parts of this foundation. Structural steel supports the walls and roof and ties it all together. Hutton team members safeguard the project process from design stages to the punch list, ensuring the safety of all on-site, the correct execution of all finishes and features, to the satisfaction of the owner.