Americold

As global demand for efficient cold-chain logistics continues to grow, Americold partnered with Coldbox Builders to deliver a 190,875-square-foot cold storage facility at the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick.

This facility represents a critical link in a growing intermodal cold-chain network, connecting Canada with the U.S., Mexico, Europe, and global markets through international trade routes. Strategically located near the Saint John River and the Bay of Fundy, it provides direct access to marine, rail via CPKC (Canadian Pacific Kansas City), truck, and air transportation infrastructure. The site is approximately 18 km from Saint John Airport (YSJ), further supporting cargo movement and supply chain connectivity.

Coldbox helped our client to deliver more than a cold storage facility; we brought to life a strategic cold-chain hub facility that supports a larger intermodal logistics network, serving as a central connection point by integrating marine, rail, and truck transportation; as a result, the facility reduces handling, improves efficiency, preserves product quality, and provides connectivity to more than 350 destinations worldwide.

This integrated logistics ecosystem is supported by:

• Strategic Port Access: at the Port of Saint John, enabling faster vessel and truck turnaround times, competitive operating costs, and direct Canada-U.S and Europe trade routes with access to major ports.
• Marine Transportation: via DP World supporting the import and export of refrigerated and frozen products through an extensive network of ports and shipping routes across North America, Europe, Asia, and global markets.
• Rail Transportation: CPKC’s rail network, connecting Canada, the United States, and Mexico, with access to an extensive intermodal network that supports efficient inland distribution and future growth.
• Truck Transportation: for regional and international distribution, including last-mile delivery.
• Air transportation: convenient access to the Saint John Airport, located just 18 km from the facility, providing efficient air cargo connectivity and supporting time-sensitive shipments to both domestic and international markets.
• Temperature-controlled storage that maintains product integrity throughout the supply chain.

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Technical Expertise

‍To support the efficient storage, handling, and movement of temperature-sensitive goods, the facility was designed with more than 22,000 pallet positions and 24 dock doors.

The project includes freezer and cool-dock areas, along with office and support spaces, an electrical room, maintenance facilities, and a battery charging area. As Design-Builder, Coldbox integrated the architectural, structural, refrigeration, mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and electrical disciplines required to deliver this highly specialized facility.

Standing 57.6 feet tall, the facility incorporates approximately 1,300 metric tonnes of steel and 23,300 cubic metres of concrete. At peak construction, more than 225 skilled tradespeople were engaged on site, with Coldbox maintaining a strong focus on safe execution and on-time, on-budget delivery.

The project presented a unique combination of challenging ground conditions, specialized cold-storage requirements, and construction within an active port environment. Built on waterfront marine soils, the site required an engineered foundation solution incorporating 2,809 rigid inclusions to support the structure of the facility. This approach addressed complex geotechnical conditions while accommodating the substantial loads associated with a large-scale cold-storage operation.

Quality assurance and compliance remained integral throughout delivery. Independent testing and inspection programs covered soils, concrete, masonry, structural steel, roofing, thermal systems, and paving works, while the project was constructed in accordance with all applicable codes and authority requirements.

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Innovation

‍To develop an optimal turnkey solution that enhances our client's operations and supports future growth, a defining technical feature of the facility is its refrigeration system, which represents Americold's first CO₂ refrigeration project.

The system utilizes R744 (CO₂) refrigerant and incorporates:

• 501 tons of refrigeration capacity
• The dual freezers can operate independently between -20 °C and +4 °C while the cold dock can be adjusted to operate between +4 °C and +9 °C.
• 2 refrigeration packs
• 4 gas coolers
• 26 evaporators
• 19 fan boxes
• Approximately 4,400 pounds of R744 (CO₂) refrigerant.

The system also has the ability to reclaim much of the heat drawn from the freezers and refrigerated dock. This waste-heat recapture is sufficient not only to heat the underfloor frost-prevention system, the loading dock, and other essential areas, but also to potentially provide heat for industrial processes at neighbouring businesses, giving the system the potential to eliminate other energy consumption by using the facility's waste heat.

The result is a state-of-the-art, CFIA-compliant cold storage facility that advances Americold's sustainability objectives. The use of CO₂ refrigeration technology improves energy efficiency while supporting the shift toward environmentally responsible refrigerants.

Through BIM-enabled coordination of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and fire protection systems, the project successfully managed complex design and construction requirements while supporting LEED accreditation objectives.

According to Americold, the facility is the "only temperature-controlled storage solution in Eastern Canada directly connected to a port, reinforcing its strategic role within the region's cold-chain infrastructure" (Americold Investor Relations).

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The Coldbox Differentiator: Building at the Gateway

‍The Americold Port Saint John facility represents more than a construction project; it is a strategic investment in the future of cold-chain logistics across North America. Americold partnered with Coldbox Builders to deliver a highly specialized facility that supports supply chain connectivity, expands temperature-controlled capacity, and provides the efficient movement of goods through a growing intermodal network.

At Coldbox Builders, we understand that our clients are making long-term investments. Our role is to transform complex requirements into high-performing facilities that deliver lasting operational and business value.

Whether developing a port-based logistics hub, an automated cold-storage facility, or specialized temperature-controlled infrastructure, Coldbox Builders brings the expertise, coordination, and execution required to turn complex challenges into long-term success.