(Sept 2020 – Feb 2023 – €65m)
| PROJECT BRIEF
SDS acted as civil, structural and architectural design engineers on the Lidl Mullingar Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) extension which increased the capacity of the current facility by c. 15,000sqm. The development comprised of a large Warehouse extension with refurbishment to the internal of the existing warehouse also and extensions to the administration block with the internal area being totally modernized. The external areas consisted of upgrade works to the admin carparking and extensive landscaping areas around the perimeter of the site. A HGV parking area was constructed with a capacity for parking for 85 vehicles. This project also incorporated 25,000 sqm of new cold rooms cooled by natural refrigerants.
| PROJECT EXCELLENCE
This is the largest of the 4 Number Lidl Ireland RDC’s with an overall floor area of 62,000 sq m.
With the completion of the Warehouse extension and refurbishment, the Freezer and Chilled areas cover over 20,000sqm.
130 Dock Leveller bays allow for larger deliveries. A state-of-the-art Gym area was fitted out within the existing warehouse to facilitate the large number of administration staff.
| TECHNICAL CHALLENGES
With the Warehouse extension spanning over 132m wide, it was structurally challenging to design the main internal supporting columns to work with the main high level racking system, and within the pallet lanes to maximum the pallet capacity of the Warehouse. Working within a live Warehouse environment while modernization workings are being conducted internally posed many issues. An extensive Phasing Plan was implemented to best suit the client’s requirements and the build ability of the required works.
| SUSTAINABILITY
Building on their sustainable building credentials, the project incorporates 25,000 sqm of new cold rooms cooled by natural refrigerants, heat recovery providing heating to the warehouse, and a pollinator-friendly area with wildflower planting to promote local biodiversity which is essential for the production of the fresh fruit and vegetables Lidl is renowned for. The new warehouse roof extension has a very large area of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels covering the roof and is one of the largest within the country. The area covered consists of 2,684 PV panels in total, with a total capacity 1,207.8 KPw and 900 KWac providing enough energy to meet approximately 25% of the plant’s energy requirements.
