What is the Amazon Facility in Garner, NC?
Project Axis is a 2.6-million-square-foot Amazon sort and distribution facility in Garner, North Carolina. WithersRavenel worked with Hillwood, a developer from Dallas. WithersRavenel prepared site surveys and evaluated wetlands, streams, and buffers. Additionally, WithersRavenel designed the site and planned off-site road improvements and coordinated all entitlements and permits for this fast-track project.
The site, which was formerly a food processing facility, includes:
- jAbout 1,800 surface automobile parking spaces
- 200 trailer storage spaces
- Two massive underground stormwater detention devices on a recognized Brownfield redevelopment site
In addition to the on-site improvements, WithersRavenel performed full design and construction administration and observation to widen Jones Sausage Road from a two-lane roadway to a four-lane median divided facility along the Amazon Fulfillment Center’s roadway frontage.
From concept to the start of construction, our team worked with the Town of Garner, NCDEQ, USACE, NCDOT, Wake County Economic Development, Garner Economic Development, and the City of Raleigh, to meet the four-month design and permitting deadline required for the project.
How was Amazon Distribution funded?
The project received economic development funding from Wake County and NCDOT and therefore strict requirements for materials testing and construction standards and specifications were followed. WithersRavenel was responsible for coordination with a separate materials testing firm to ensure proper testing and sampling and subsequent paperwork is being completed. WithersRavenel also performed weekly progress meetings with NCDOT, the client, Town of Garner, and contractor, reviewing pay applications, and documenting all construction activities and materials received.
What makes the Garner Amazon Distribution Center unique?
The project was unique in the sense that it became a quasi-design/build project as WithersRavenel worked with the developer, the project architect, and the site contractor to deliver the project on time while a prototype for the facility was being developed. This required significant coordination to ensure all plan updates and revisions were communicated to all parties during construction.
The Amazon Sort & Distribution Facility in Garner, which broke ground in July of 2018, became fully operational on August 1, 2020.