Primus’ second cold storage design build project for industrial real estate developer Saxum is located in Jacksonville, FL. The 334,000 SF greenfield cold storage warehouse will have 32 dock doors, a QFR blast freezing area, de-slat area, a USDA room, freezers with temperatures ranging from -10° to 35° and the usual support spaces (conference rooms, break areas, office space, etc.).

What’s different about it is how Project Manager Dennis LeDrew and Superintendent Kane Little are incorporating technology to improve operational excellence. “We’re maximizing the Oracle Cloud platform,” Dennis said. “It’s having a dramatic impact on cost and schedule.”

Below are a few of the interesting ways he is deploying this scheduling software.

SIX-WEEK LOOK AHEAD SCHEDULES

This project is utilizing the Last Planner System (LPS) in the field. Dennis is amplifying its effectiveness by integrating 4D scheduling into the six-week look ahead schedule. He creates printouts that feature the schedule alongside an image of the 3D model of the expected work for each of the six weeks. Kane hangs these up above their respective weeks on the LPS board. This gives our subcontractors a visual representation of the work they are expected to complete. It also allows the team to find potential schedule challenges.

An example of this took place on site recently. While reviewing the 4D six-week look ahead, the team noticed that installing panels on the main part of the building first, then moving on to the QFR freezer, was not the most efficient plan because of crane location and panel storage challenges. They determined that if they flipped that sequence (paneled the QFR freezer first), they would have a smoother transition. This decision benefitted the project’s schedule and safety.

ISOLATING TRADE PARTNER SCHEDULES

Dennis also uses codes to isolate subcontractor schedules. Doing so provides our trade partners with a customized view of their work. Durations, expectations and deadlines are clearly communicated with no room for misinterpretation.

CUSTOMER UPDATES

Finally, Dennis uses 4D scheduling to provide our customers with detailed progress updates. “The 4D model gives the owner a visual comparison of what we planned to have completed at a certain date versus what we actually completed,” he said. This provides a level of transparency and accountability that keeps the project on track.

The right technology used the right way can result in efficiency, transparency and accountability. Congratulations to Dennis and Kane for finding ways to maximize our existing technology.

Becton Dickinson’s new e-beam medical device sterilization facility is underway in Tucson, AZ. Primus attended the groundbreaking to celebrate the occasion. Our team is providing design-build construction services on the this 75,000 SF Greenfield facility. Spaces include:

• Receiving and shipping areas open to a pre-run staging and post-run staging warehouse
• Administration and welfare area
• Maintenance room
• Control room
• Utility/equipment rooms

Congratulations all around!

This takes effort. Primus Safety Director Deric Winslett has been hard at work implementing our existing safety plan and identifying ways to improve it. This has included several initiatives:

• Developing a safety orange card that contains all pertinent safety information in one easy-to-access place
• Re-vamping our safety awards to honor our teammates exhibiting strong safety skills
• Re-emphasizing the importance of reporting incidents, accidents and near-misses
• Following the captive insurance improvement plan
• Working with human resources and our risk compliance officer to administratively mitigate risk
• Utilizing Safety Reports, an app-based program to support safety field audits, supervision safety observations, incident reporting and data analytics.
• Conducting targeted safety training using SafetyAmp

Because of this effort, Primus has achieved a record low EMR in 2023. A company’s EMR (Experience Modification Rate) is a number used by insurance companies to determine the likelihood that a business will be required to pay worker’s compensation claims. The industry standard is 1.0. Higher than 1.0, a firm is considered riskier. Lower than 1.0 and a firm is considered less risky.

Primus achieved an EMR score of 0.69. This is the lowest EMR score in our company’s history.

“What Deric and his team have achieved is very impressive,” said Director of Construction Tony Dembickie. “He continues to push all of us to do better and work as safely as possible.”

A client representative, when recently discussing Primus’s safety success, had this to say: “You all are doing things with your safety program that are very forward thinking – it’s impressive.”

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made,” said Deric. “In the end, it comes down to the men and women in the field who are putting safety first day in and day out. They’re the reason for our success.”

Congratulations to Deric and his team – Safety Manager Taylor Elliott and Safety Coordinator Kristin Grizzle. We look forward to seeing what’s next!

Primus is pleased to announce Tom Coyne has joined our team and is serving as the new president of Primus Solutions Group, our in-house automation division.

Tom joins Primus most recently from viastore where he had an impressive run as president with year-over-year revenue growth of up to 40%. Before viastore, Tom was equally successful at Kardex Remstar, System Logistics Corp. and Rapistan Corp. (now Dematic Corp.). He attributes his success to an insatiable curiosity about how systems work. This goes beyond automation equipment and includes building teams that are encouraged to stretch their limits and find the best solutions to customer business goals.

Primus was one of the first design-build firms in the cold storage space to incorporate automation design into its process. This led to successful projects for Mar-Jac Poultry, Case Farms, Americold and more. As the demand for automation continues to grow, so does the firm’s commitment to ensuring the Solutions Group has the resources to be successful. Tom provides the leadership and experience to do that.

Solutions Group Executive Vice President Randy Jennings has nothing but praise for Tom. “I have known of Tom, his reputation and experience in the automated material handling industry, for decades and have personally worked with him on opportunities over the past five years,” he said. “I believe that he brings a great deal of experience to our company that not only will enhance the professional offerings of the Solutions Group, but I feel will make Primus a better company for his joining us.”

Tom Coyne can be reached at tcoyne@primusbuilders.com.

Primus recently refreshed the exterior of its two-building complex and threw a party for their team, families, local officials, members of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and other invited guests.

The team was celebrating the upgrades (a paint job that reflects the company’s brand, new signage, landscaping and security cameras) as well as its successful partnership with the City of Woodstock and Cherokee County.

Primus’ original headquarters was in the Town Lake area. The firm quickly outgrew that space when it brought architectural design services in-house. In addition to access to major highways and close proximity to the airport, founding partners CEO Rich O’Connell and COO Erik Gunderson selected the two-building complex in Woodstock because it provided space to grow into a full-service design-build firm.

And it has. Over the years, Primus has added structural, mechanical and electrical engineering; automation design; estimating; data solutions; sustainability program management; and insulated metal panel installation services.

Woodstock received a Livable Centers Initiative planning grant right around the time Primus moved in. “We’ve grown alongside Woodstock as they’ve come into their own,” said Primus President Matt Hirsch. “We appreciate the upgrades they’ve made to their downtown area. It’s great to have a place to entertain clients and go on team outings. It also helps us recruit top talent.”

Primus remains committed to giving back to the community they call home. “We are compelled to serve, not to be served,” said Gunderson. Their endeavors include annual drives that benefit Never Alone (a local food bank); Cherokee County foster children; Paws for Life (a service dog organization) and local recipients for Make-a-Wish Georgia and Pets for Vets. “This may be what I am most proud of as an organization,” he said.

The updated exterior reflects Primus’ commitment to stay in the Woodstock area. About 30% of its employees currently call Cherokee County home. The company expects this percentage to grow along with the county.

Primus celebrated the groundbreaking of a new 332,701 SF cold storage facility in North Jacksonville, Florida. Also participating in the celebration were Saxum Real Estate, the developer of the project, and Arcadia Cold, the building’s largest tenant.

The new facility will sit on 32 acres in Imeson International Park, just 10 minutes from the the Port of Jacksonville. Representatives from the port, Jacksonville’s Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA (Jacksonville’s regional economic development initiative) were also in attendance.

Speakers stressed the growing demand for cold storage in the region. “JaxPort is Florida’s largest container port, and refrigerated cargo is an important segment of our container business,” said Rick Schiappacasse, director of the port’s forest products and specialty cargoes. “Over the last few years, we’ve added nearly 800,000 SF of refrigerated cargo space.”

“The demand for cold storage has intensified since the pandemic. There is a real need to shore up the supply chain,” said Primus President Matt Hirsch. “We are seeing more and more cold storage warehouses being built speculatively to meet that demand.”

The new warehouse will feature convertible cold storage spaces with temperatures ranging from -10°F to 40°F and a total of 30,254 pallet positions. QFR blast freezing will also be available. “We design these buildings to meet the future needs of potential tenants,” Hirsch said about the space. “We’ve been designing and building cold storage facilities for 23 years and have a good handle on the features that tenants will require.” Additional elements include 32 loading docks, support spaces (locker room, conference room, break room, office, driver’s lounge), a USDA room, 62 trailer storage spaces and 109 parking spaces.

According to the Jacksonville Daily Record, the City Council voted 17-0 to approve the project. The new cold storage warehouse will open in early 2024 and bring 65-70 full-time jobs to the area.

We help our customers prevent the mistakes many companies make when purchasing software:

• Under-utilizing features
• Missing/skipping/duplicating essential steps
• Not understanding how softwares can connect, etc.

Software is a big investment; not only is it expensive, there’s often a five-year commitment. Primus can help you maximize your investment. From front-end services to construction close out, our team is truly the no-stone-unturned partner. Our holistic approach determines how each business system affects the others and how to optimize those applications so they share data and improve efficiencies.

Consider the following example:

Kinexo is a premier North American provider of innovative supply chain solutions in North America.

Kinexo installed an ERP solution last year. They knew it had a lot of functionality, but they weren’t maximizing the components. Primus conducted an audit and determined the procurement module was indeed underutilized and it lacked features. John Robba and his team built out a demo tool that would help them be more productive and still connect to their existing system. John presented the tool, and their internal web developer turned it from the demo into a full-fledged application. Primus also identified deals/rebates they weren’t using, additional underutilized pieces and steps they could skip to get the best outcome.

Our knowledge of software development, cold storage, logistics, Enterprise Resource Management (ERP) systems and data management systems helped Kinexo get the most value from their system.

Are you maximizing your internal software systems? Call Primus today to schedule a software audit. 770-928-7120.

“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” – Publilius Syrus

In 2008, Primus made its first trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to compete in a fishing tournament. The experience was so positive that when the opportunity to transact on a boat presented itself in 2017, the leadership team took it. Since then, Primus has participated in numerous fishing tournaments and has also used the boat as a means to thank our customers and reward our teams.

The boat is captained by Eddy Cesena. Eddy is an organized, engaged leader with a can-do attitude and a positive spirit. Over the years, as Primus participated in more and more tournaments, the leadership team recognized that there are a lot of similarities between running a competition fishing boat and running a cold storage construction project, no matter what stage it is in – design, preconstruction or construction.

The leadership team sat down with Eddy recently to discuss these similarities. A few of the highlights from this conversation include:

• Your site is your boat. You are in charge. Own it.
• The home office is here to support you. If you require additional training, equipment, software, etc., reach out. Your success is imperative to our success.
• Relationships matter. Treat your coworkers, trade partners and vendors fairly. If you’re ever in a pinch, they will be more willing to help.
• Proactive planning is essential. Understanding what you need in the next days and weeks and communicating that with your team builds trust and improves your chances for a successful project.
• Take pride in your work. Even the smallest details. Your reputation depends on it.
• If you have, give. Giving back to the community is an opportunity to make an impact and grow as a person.

Highlights of this conversation were shared at Primus’ annual company meeting in January.

Primus is committed to developing young talent – project managers, engineers, architects, estimators, superintendents – you name it. If an individual demonstrates a strong desire to succeed, our leadership team is eager to provide the resources to make it happen.

This goes for members of our community as well. When Primus leadership met local golfer Caleb Greiner at a recent tournament, they were inspired to assist him with his dream of going pro.

Caleb Grenier is a graduate of Etowah High School in Woodstock, GA, less than five miles from Primus headquarters. He grew up in the area playing a host of sports – basketball, football, baseball and golf. It was when he entered high school that golf became his sole focus.

“I just had a strong urge to play,” Caleb said. The coach at his high school encouraged him to take it up. “I’m not a prodigy,” he continued. “I just kept working hard.” Caleb eventually started competing with – and beating – players who have been in the sport longer.

The journey to becoming a professional golfer is challenging and expensive. There are several options, and they all require tour entry fees, travel costs and more. “You can try to caddy as a way to pay for it,” Caleb said. “But that leaves little time for practice, conditioning and coaching.” So when he caddied for Primus CEO Rich O’Connell at a recent tournament and the subject came up, Caleb made his pitch.

“He’s an impressive young man,” Rich said. “He has the grit and determination to make it.”

Caleb feels ready. “The biggest gifts sports have given me are discipline and hard work,” he said. “I’ve had tough coaches my whole life. Nobody took it easy on me. They made me the player I am today.”

The timing couldn’t be better. Caleb is starting at Qualifying School (Q-School) for the PGA Tour Canada in April. Top players in this tour earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the following season. If he finishes in the top 25 in the Korn Ferry Tour, he will advance to the PGA Tour.

He’ll also be playing in additional professional tournaments to gain experience. The next one is the Oceanside Open in California. The Primus team will be cheering him on from Woodstock!

Primus is pleased to announce the addition of David Johnson to its team. Johnson will serve as a senior program manager and lead complex projects in Primus’s manufacturing division.

Johnson has over 15 years of experience developing and managing industrial construction projects. This includes food and beverage, bakery, pet food, plant protein and meat processing projects in the United States and Europe. He has a deep understanding of the nuances specific to these projects including equipment installation and ensuring compliance with USDA, FDA, BRC, CFIA and SQF regulations.

As senior program manager, Johnson will will take a leading on the firm’s manufacturing projects. His philosophy is to conduct significant planning up front to ensure smooth execution. “The biggest differentiator for Primus is the fact that they have a full-service design studio in-house that understands how to use technology,” Johnson said. “This makes planning and execution more precise and efficient.”

Johnson will bring his customer-focused approach to Primus’s manufacturing project management process. “He has a lot of experience, and he’s extremely detail-oriented,” said Primus President Matt Hirsch. “We’re looking forward to seeing him elevate our manufacturing division to the next level.”

David Johnson | Senior Program Manager, Manufacturing Division | djohnson@primusbuilders.com