More than just your average warehouse

Posted on April 01, 2013

In late March, Hungerford hosted the first media preview for its latest commercial build-to-suit building in Richmond. In an industrial area along No. 6 Road, the new, 65,300 square-foot, sustainable, state-of-the art seafood processing, packaging and distribution facility is the first new commercial building to be constructed using Richmond’s new green roof (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) building alternatives.

Most industrial buildings are simple boxes. But this one, for Albion Fisheries, is a world-class, high performance model. It’s got all the bells and whistles, and it sets new standards for sustainability as well as for health and cleanliness.

Business in Vancouver wrote about the new fish processing plant and its environmental and sustainability story. Ming Pao and Sing Tao also came out to tour the new plant and shared with readers that Albion isthe first environmentally friendly commercial building in Richmond.

“Most industrial buildings are simple boxes,” Michael Hungerford told BIV. “But this is the world-class, high-performance model. It’s got all the bells and whistles, and it sets new standards for sustainability as well as for health and cleanliness from an operations standpoint.”

Aside from the sophisticated live tanks, drainage and freezer systems required, the building also features advanced environmental standards including a top-of-the-line storm water management system, a TPO roof that reduces the heat island effect, permeable paving and landscaping to provide a canopy over parking areas.

But creating a building from scratch is no easy feat. “There are so many factors to consider,” says Michael Hungerford. “It’s not just about the real estate. To make sure our clients are positioned for successful operations, we need to provide them with efficient and effective commercial development design, create healthy work environments, minimize operating costs, and build for long-term quality.”

The other factor, he says, is having the right team. There are thousands of decisions to make, and Hungerford clients aren’t used to designing buildings. They know what they want in the end, but getting there is a collaborative process. With 30 years of experience in the real estate market, Hungerford prides itself on knowing how to make this to happen with minimal risk.

“Our standards are embodied in the new Albion seafood plant,” said Michael Hungerford. “I’m really proud of it.”