Category: Industrial
Tilt-up construction, also known as tilt wall or tilt slab construction, is a widely adopted building method where walls are poured directly at the jobsite in large slabs. These slabs are then tilted or lifted into position by a large crane. Tilt panel picking is one of the most critical processes of this building type with unique safety considerations that must be addressed to prevent accidents and ensure a smooth construction process.
Safety is always a hot topic in construction, and for good reason: working on construction sites is dangerous. Reputable contractors work hard to provide education, tools and processes to reduce the rates of injury on jobsites. In an industry where margins can be tight and schedules demanding, cutting corners on safety can be a tempting but perilous path. A culture that prioritizes safety in all aspects of construction, including tilt panel picks, can enhance efficiency, protect valuable human and financial resources, and contribute to a company’s long-term success and sustainability.

Key Safety Considerations in Tilt Panel Picks
The practice of lifting and positioning large concrete panels, often weighing 150 tons or more, can be fraught with hazards. Any failure in handling these panels can lead to catastrophic consequences, including serious injuries or fatalities, as well as substantial damage to property, delays to the schedule and more.
To optimize safety, the following strategies must be utilized in conjunction with an experienced team:
1. Planning and Designing
Proper planning and engineering are foundational to safe tilt-up construction. This includes:
- Structural Analysis: Panels should be designed with proper reinforcement, considering all forces they will be exposed to during lifting and positioning. A qualified structural engineer must be involved in panel design.
- Lifting Inserts and Hardware: The right materials, inserts, and hardware must be chosen, ensuring they can handle the forces exerted during the tilt process.
- Crane Roads & Terrain Analysis: Proper haul roads must be designed and engineered to ensure the load of the crane will be supported by the surface on which it will sit. The crane might be positioned outside the building area, within it, or a combination of both, during the pick process. Each surface must be extensively analyzed by licensed and qualified engineers.
2. Training and Qualification of Personnel
Handling tilt panels requires specialized skills. Key considerations include:
- Training: Workers should be trained on specific procedures, safety regulations, and potential hazards.
- Certification: Using certified crane operators and riggers who understand the dynamics of lifting heavy panels is vital.
- Site Specific Safety: Every individual site must be evaluated prior to picking panels to determine the plan for safety, including who will be involved, what tools they need, and what the exit routes are in the event of catastrophic failure during panel placement.

3. Equipment Selection and Maintenance
The right equipment ensures safe and efficient lifting. Key aspects include:
- Crane Selection: Cranes with proper capacity and reach must be selected. Other factors, including but not limited to crane transport routes and placement, must be considered.
- Equipment Maintenance: Regular inspections and maintenance of cranes, rigging, and other equipment are essential to prevent mechanical failure. This kind of failure is both costly and can also be dangerous to onsite crews and operators.
- Slab Protection: If the crane is placed on the floor slab, analysis must be completed to ensure the slab can withstand the crane load. Measures such as temporary matting, outrigger locations and increased structural capacity of the slab will all be considered prior to the pick.
4. On-site Safety Measures
Safety practices during the tilt process should include:
- Safety Barriers: Establishing clear safety barriers around the lifting zone to keep unauthorized personnel away.
- Communication: Ensuring clear and constant communication between the crane operator, ground crew, and supervisors.
- Weather Considerations: Monitoring weather conditions and postponing lifts during high winds or other unfavorable conditions.

Some of the safety measures Perlo implements on jobsites for panel picks include:
A ‘No Access Zone’: Within this area, no individuals can be present that aren’t actively working on the pick. The zone is determined by calculating 150% of the panel height. For example, if the panel is 50 feet tall, the No Access Zone would be 75’ around it.
All workers must be within the line of site of the crane operator.
A safety ‘stand down’ is held with all crew members to review potential hazards as well as individual roles and responsibilities prior to the pick beginning.
Personnel are rotated throughout the pick to eliminate body fatigue.
5. Emergency Preparedness
Having a clear emergency response plan is crucial. This includes:
- Emergency Training: Regular drills and training on what to do if something goes wrong.
- First-Aid Availability: Having first-aid facilities and trained personnel on-site.
Utilizing Case Studies to Increase Safety
Analyzing previous accidents in tilt-up construction can provide valuable insights. One common theme in many incidents is a failure in communication or oversight. Such failures might be addressed by implementing comprehensive safety protocols and ensuring all team members are aware of their individual responsibilities.
As usual, prevention is the best medicine. A good plan prior to beginning this work is the key to maintaining a safe jobsite.
Final Thoughts
Safety during tilt panel picks in construction is not just a matter of compliance with regulations; it’s a vital aspect that protects lives and investments. By embracing a safety culture that includes proper planning, training, equipment selection, on-site safety measures, and emergency preparedness, construction companies can greatly reduce the risks associated with tilt-up construction.
The rewards for prioritizing safety in tilt panel picks go beyond just preventing accidents. It fosters a more efficient and harmonious working environment and ensures that projects are completed on time and within budget. In a competitive industry where reputation matters, a strong commitment to safety can also become a valuable asset, setting companies apart and cultivating trust with clients.
Perlo has completed hundreds of tilt buildings in our 65+ year history. We have even been labeled the ‘Tilt Kings’ because of our strength in this market. If you’re interested in a new building, get in touch with us today.
Featured Tilt-Up Projects

Columbia Distributing Headquarters
This project consisted of a concrete tilt-up shell with steel joists, and metal deck. Included in the facility is approximately 17,000 SF of class A office space build-out with warehouse improvements and a 53,000 SF cooler.

Ridgefield Industrial Center
Completed on 50-acres in Washington, this ground-up construction projects was a speculative warehouse space utilizing concrete tilt-up panels. Features include 36-feet of clear height throughout the warehouse.

Reilly West – GXO
This 270,000 ground-up, concrete tilt-up building in Hillsboro, Oregon, included high-tech fulfillment systems, unique fire alarm and fire sprinkler components, a fully racked warehouse as well as a built-out office space.
We conclude our Year in Review series by taking a look at our projects close to home. Our headquarters, located in Tualatin, Oregon, affords us the opportunity to take part in the ever-expanding growth of the Portland Metro area where we build premier facilities for our clients and partners.
They say, “there is no place like home,” but for us, home is in the field doing what we do best: building. Beyond the building of our specialty structures like industrial warehouse tilt-up buildings, we strive to build relationships both in our industry as well as our community. We have been doing what we do for 66 years, and we do not take that longevity for granted. We know that to sustain a company for this long takes serious work. It requires showing up and delivering on our promises day after day.
The proof of our longevity is in the on-time delivery of our projects and our long-standing relationships with our clients. Before we conclude this series, we want to take the time to thank all of our collaborators for partnering with us and allowing us the opportunity to bring their projects to life.

Tualatin-Sherwood Corporate Park
Located on the bustling Tualatin-Sherwood Road, this 32-acre development is home to three new, speculative, tilt-up industrial buildings. The project needed more than one million cubic yards of excavation work, new utility tie-ins, and public street improvements. In addition, a soil nail shotcrete retaining wall, large water retention ponds and several new EV charging stations were added to the design.

Like any project, the team encountered detours along the way. Project Manager, Jacob Klein, explained that the preparation of the site required extensive rock blasting. Because of this, added precautions were necessary to maintain safe working areas and to coordinate concrete pours around the blasting. Vibration monitors were used to ensure no concrete was damaged in the process. We featured much about this project in a previous article, discussing the complexities of the site logistics for this work.



Perlo’s crews self-performed the following scopes:
- Structural concrete, including footings and slabs
- Tilt-up and cast-in-place walls
- Miscellaneous rough carpentry
- Doors, frames and hardware installation
The construction of this project began during the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic, which required the establishment of safe working conditions while enforcing both Perlo and governmental policies. There were multiple shake-ups after construction began, like reducing the number of buildings from five to three, and incorporating LEED certification, which resulted in significant changes to the design, budget, and the scope of work. The team went above and beyond to work with the City of Sherwood and local jurisdictional authorities to meet every necessary requirement.
Perlo Team
Chris McInroe | Project Director
Jacob Klein| Project Manager
Mike Lutz | Superintendent
Thomas Vielle | Foreman
McKayla Marshall | APM
Dennis Bonin | Director of Safety
112th & Myslony
Like the TS Corporate Park, these two new concrete tilt-up industrial buildings are located on the highly visible Tualatin-Sherwood Road. The sitework performed by the project team was extensive and included installing an underground stormwater detention system. From the beginning, there were several factors the team discussed during preconstruction that needed extra attention. Extensive planning was necessary to complete this work, including:
- Managing a very tight jobsite to accommodate the building size and configuration.
- Implementing the city’s requirement for an 80% increase in stormwater detention systems
- Management of the increased budget due to the added stormwater detention requirements.

Additionally, Superintendent Tracy Robinson remarked that a street and utility extension was required and had to be completed in conjunction with the site construction. Since this new street extension was also the only site access, it was difficult to complete the new buildings while maintaining construction flow.



Senior Project Manager, Jordan Peterson, added that one of the greatest challenges for him was knowing “that it was a project that every Perlo employee would drive past each day,” and wanting to ensure that it was a building that represented the Perlo brand successfully.
The Perlo work crews self-performed the following scopes:
- Structural concrete, including footings and slabs
- Tilt-up and cast-in-place walls
- Miscellaneous rough carpentry
- Doors, frames and hardware installation
The project was an overwhelming success. Perlo was given the opportunity to perform all of the subsequent tenant improvement projects, and now both buildings are is fully leased. Another great project for Perlo!
Perlo Team
Jordan Peterson | Senior Project Manager
Whitney Peterson | Project Manager
Tracy Robinson | Superintendent
Jared Libby | Foreman
McKayla Marshall | APM
Dennis Bonin | Director of Safety
Shredding Systems, Inc.
This project consisted of the construction of two new concrete tilt-up buildings with a combined 57,400 SF for Shredding Systems Inc., conveniently placed next to their existing facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. One of the buildings included around 3,000 SF of wood framed office build-out and mezzanine space. .

From the beginning of the project, the team faced an enormous obstacle in that the project had originally been designed 15 years prior. The project team worked diligently to coordinate with ownership, civil engineers, and utility companies to address the existing utility locations that conflicted with the dated plans. In addition, several trees had grown significantly into the locations of the footings and utility easements. of the City of Wilsonville is affectionately know as Tree City, USA. As such, Project Manager Lainee Perala reflected that “we had to engage an arborist and the city each time we worked near a tree or were considering removal”.



Perlo’s team self-performed the following scopes:
- Structural concrete including footings, slabs, tilt panels, dock aprons, and stair pans
- Installation of engineered timber framing
- Doors, frames and hardware installation
Despite facing the disruptions of unknown site conditions, schedule impacts, plan and design conflicts, and the Covid-19 pandemic, the project team was able to put their adaptability and experience to work, and successfully see the project through its completion.
Perlo Team
Chris Gregg | Senior VP of Operations
Lainee Perala | Project Manager
Nick Butler | Superintendent
Travis Eaton | Foreman
Brooke Carswell | APM
Final Thoughts
In construction, there will always be challenges to overcome. Perlo Practice #3, Success Isn’t a Straight Path, speaks to our ability to adapt during our work, learn from each project and take responsibility for every choice and every action. We set the bar high, but know that there is always room to grow, and that is what drives our success.
Thank you for joining us as we reflected on some of the projects we completed in 2022. We look forward to the next year and the many projects it will bring!
It’s week 3 of our 2022 Year in Review Series and we’re taking a look at some of the projects we constructed right in our ‘backyard’, so to speak. With a new owner-user manufacturing plant, high-tech product picking equipment, a local district administrative office remodel, an industrial warehouse and a new self-storage building, the projects we tackled in 2022 were both varied and unique!
To begin, let’s take a look at a local owner-user, a well-known and reputable brand.

Leupold + Stevens
Perlo developed this new distribution center adjacent to the Leupold & Stevens active manufacturing plant and constructed the building utilizing concrete tilt-up panels, metal decking, and built-up roofing. In addition to the main warehouse area, this project features a thickened slab for heavy material storage, two separate office spaces with custom finishes, a stormwater detention system, and public right of way improvements to accommodate a widened driveway.

The project team collaborated closely with the Architect, CIDA and Developer, Stratus Real Estate Developers throughout the preconstruction, design, and permitting process. The permitting process was complicated by the location of the building, since multiple jurisdictions weighed in on the project including the city of Beaverton and Washington County. Clean Water Services also required extensive permits and inspections. Building constraints also included maintaining access to the existing Leupold & Stevens manufacturing facility.



Perlo’s crews self-performed the following scopes:
- Structural concrete foundations, slabs and tilt-up walls
- Miscellaneous rough carpentry
- Miscellaneous accessories installation
- Doors, frames and hardware installation
Early planning and coordination paid off for the team in terms of a successful delivery of this new facility. Perlo Senior Project Manager, Jordan Peterson, reflected that “we were able to build the project on an active campus with Leupold and they were very happy with our team, our communication and ultimately, they love their new building.”
Perlo Team
Jordan Peterson | Senior Project Manager
Jakob Eisenbeiss | Project Engineer
Darrell Budge | Superintendent
Isaac Hobb | Foreman
Kathy Ohannessian | APM
Dennis Bonin | Director of Safety
Reilly West – GXO
Constructed in Hillsboro, Oregon, this fully insulated, 27,000 SF concrete tilt-up building with steel decking is complete with racking, offices, break rooms, restrooms, and conference rooms, as well as both a walk-in cooler and freezer, and electric forklift chargers. In addition, the site includes twenty-seven dock doors, vehicular parking, electric vehicle charging stations and a large bio-swale and landscaping.

This unique project presented a myriad of obstacles that offered Perlo an opportunity to rise to the occasion to deliver successful results for the end-user. These obstacles were met with quick and creative thinking, extensive planning and coordination with all parties, and confidence in the capabilities and experience of the team. These obstacles included:
- Extensive rainfall (99 days with at least 1/10th of an inch from August to June)
- Supply chain issues and delays in the delivery of the electrical gear and emergency backup generator
- Challenges in acquiring permits



The Perlo work crews self-performed the following scopes:
- Structural concrete including footings, aprons, dock pits, slabs, and panels
- Door, frames, and hardware Installation
- Toilet accessories installation
- Roof accessories installation
- Smoking shelter installation
Most unique about this project was the preparation of the robotic package picking system by AutoStore in a section of the warehouse. To function properly, the floor was designed to have a special rating for both floor flatness and floor levelness. To learn more about this unique process, read our featured blog post GXO: A Warehouse to Admire. Perlo Project Manager Taylor Regier reflected that, “we were able to find solutions over the course of months of detailed coordination efforts to still deliver the project on time.”
Perlo Team
Chris McInroe | Project Director
Taylor Regier | Project Manager
Gary Lundervold | Superintendent
Kyle Kowalski | Foreman
Brooke Carswell | APM
Mike Souder | Field Safety Coordinator
Sandy Industrial Lot II
This sprawling industrial building was built on 8-acres in Portland, Oregon and features twenty-five dock doors, dock levelers, and 3,500 SF of office space. The projected required extensive sitework to remove and reuse what seemed like a never-ending supply of boulders and the integration of an eyebrow canopy to conceal required sprinkler heads.

During preconstruction, an extensive amount of planning was done to work with the site conditions and grades. Unlike most tilt buildings, the new tilt panels were installed about 11’ under the exterior finished grade, which dramatically complicated the tilt-up process. A specialty material was used for the backfill to ensure the panels will withhold the loading.



Perlo’s team self-performed the following scopes:
- Structural concrete including footings, aprons, dock pits, slabs, and panels
- Miscellaneous carpentry
- Doors, frames & hardware installation
When asked about the challenge of the site in terms of size and conditions, Senior Project Manager, Jordan Peterson, explained that the picking of the panels was an extraordinary challenge. He remarked that, “we had it planned down to literally inches of space that we had available for our crane.”
Taking all these factors into consideration and being able to rise to the occasion and not only manage, but successfully overcome all of the site challenges was a great triumph for the team.
Perlo Team
Jordan Peterson | Senior Project Manager
Whitney Peterson | Project Manager
Jack Johnson | Superintendent
Jean Rwandika | Project Engineer
McKayla Marshall | APM
West Coast Self-Storage
Located in Happy Valley, Oregon, this project consisted of the ground-up construction of a 57,000 SF, three-story self-storage building and the remodel of an existing 41,000 SF tilt building. With a combined 98,000 square feet, Perlo completed both buildings in a compressed 11-month timeline. Each building’s design features high-end exterior finishes and architectural towers to meet the requirements of the local jurisdiction..

When asked about what made the project unique, Superintendent Mike Lutz had one word: “location.” The jobsite was in close proximity to a major roadway which required that the project team maintain strict traffic control measures to ensure all scheduled deliveries could access the site with ease. In addition, because of its dense, urban location, the site was small and difficult to manage.



Perlo’s team self-performed the following scopes:
- Seismic upgrades
- Doors, frames & hardware installation
- Structural concrete, footings & slabs
Another critical factor that required special planning was the existing power lines surrounding the jobsite. Every one of these challenges were considered and addressed with meticulous care by the project team, allowing us to complete the project in a compressed timeframe.
Perlo Team
Jeremy Maynard | Project Director
Erich Schmidt | Senior Project Manager
Mike Lutz | Superintendent
Devon Panosh | Foreman
Dennis Bonin | Director of Safety
Final Thoughts
Perlo Construction is never one to shy away from a challenge. We understand that in construction, every detail counts. Perlo Practice # 9 is to “Finish Strong: even if you get 99% right, they’ll only remember the 1% you get wrong”. We know that if we dig deep and ensure no stone is left unturned, we can meticulously execute our planning to deliver high-quality projects each and every time.
This week, our Year in Review series resumes as we continue to explore the variety of our construction projects across the Portland Metro Area. From storage facilities to auto dealerships, we demonstrate our ability to deliver successful results across multiple market sectors.

StorQuest Self Storage
This recently completed project features a 4-story, ground-up, self-storage facility in Happy Valley, Oregon. The project included a daylight basement, metal truss roofing, and a covered loading dock. The unique design included varying pitched roofs at different elevations and cultured stone on the corners of the building. Additionally, the project was built on a hillside next to Rock Creek, which required our teams to excavate and export substantial amounts of dirt from the site.

Due to rising costs, the project team sourced all materials during preconstruction to guarantee the project stayed on budget. According to Project Superintendent, Joe Kane, one of the greatest challenges of the project was the size of the building site. Because the site was so small, the material had to be stored offsite and trucked in ’just-in-time’ for installation. In addition, getting the concrete trucks and pump truck on site for pours was difficult, there was just enough room to back a single truck in. The others had to wait down to street to avoid blocking traffic on busy Sunnyside Road.



Perlo’s crews self-performed a variety of elements, including:
- Structural concrete footings
- Cast-in-place walls for the basement
Despite the tight job site and constant erosion control monitoring of Rock Creek on the west side of the building, the team completed an impressive concrete pour of a 4th floor deck and were successful in delivering the project on time.
Perlo Team
Jeremy Maynard | Project Director
Erich Schmidt | Senior Project Manager
Joe Kane | Superintendent
Gary Cox | Foreman
Brooke Carswell | APM
Mars Gracida | Field Safety Coordinator
Herzog-Meier Mazda
This project consisted of the new, ground-up construction of a two-story Mazda showroom, the remodel of an existing service and parts sales building, and the addition of a new, ground-up service, detailing, and photo booth building.

From the preconstruction phase, special considerations and planning needed to be made to accommodate existing conditions and ongoing showroom operations, including:
- Large, underground water retention storage facility
- Site logistics
- Customer safety
Like so many projects completed within the last couple of years, supply chain disruptions presented an enormous obstacle for the team, but they were able to draw from recent experiences to enact strategies to keep the schedule on track.



The Perlo work crews self-performed the following scopes:
- Structural concrete work
- Roof structure installation
Superintendent Jay Edgar reflected on what meant the most for him about this project, “This new dealership sits along the highway with four others that I have previously built. Each one was different in its own design. I am very proud of all these buildings”. The opportunity to perform multiple times for the same clients and those nearby are a true testament to the success that Perlo has achieved in the construction of Auto Dealerships.
Perlo Team
Jake Jensen | Senior Project Manager
Joe Sprando | Project Manager
Jay Edgar | Superintendent
Dave Castillo | Foreman
Regan Cloudy | Project Engineer
Crystal Bentley | Lead APM
Jadyn Bentley | Admin Assistant
True Terpenes
Located in Hillsboro, Oregon, this project consisted of a 22,000 SF tenant improvement in an existing office and warehouse space for a CBD production tenant. The scope of the project included constructing a second-level mezzanine, new office spaces, conference rooms, and a manufacturing space with clean rooms and warehouse storage.

To prepare for the project, special considerations needed to be made in the design to consider existing conditions, such as mechanical units, office spaces, and a stained concrete floor. The mezzanine was constructed above an existing office space which, according to Project Manager Adam Smelley, posed some challenges.



Perlo’s team self-performed the following scopes:
- Concrete pour back
- Doors, frames, and hardware installation
- Restroom accessories installation
- Miscellaneous accessories installation
Superintendent, Kyncade Hardy, explained that delays in sourcing the structural steel for the mezzanine as well as the custom-colored cloud ceilings requested for the open office area were both large hurdles to overcome. The team made sure to be honest and transparent in their communication with ownership about progress of the project to ensure that the completion of the project was on time, as well as finding creative solutions to work around these challenges. True Terpenes had a tight schedule to bring in their equipment, so finishing on time was critical.
The Perlo Podcast featured an onsite episode all about True Terpenes. View it now in our Newsroom.
Perlo Team
Adam Smelley | Project Manager
Kyncade Hardy | Superintendent
Nathan Wright | Foreman
Brooke Carswell | APM
Mike Souder | Field Safety Coordinator
Dragonberry Produce Expansion
This new 29,700 SF tilt-up concrete distribution center is located in Canby, Oregon and is the second facility Perlo has built for Dragonberry Produce. The building included a 6,100 SF cooler and a 2,500 SF freezer with high-speed doors, a natural gas generator, and two high-end office areas with a future separate tenant build-out area for nut processing. The site includes a loading dock, passenger car parking, two swales and drywells for storm water management, a truck scale, and two drive aisles for access.

There were two driving factors in the design of this project: flexibility and sustainability. As the Northwest’s premier specialty produce distributor, it was important to the client that their freezer have a dual function as both a freezer and cooler. To accommodate this, adjustments were made in the design, including a glycol system installed under the slab-on-grade to protect the concrete from freezing. Additionally, although natural gas generators are not common, this system was selected because it is more sustainable than diesel generators.



Perlo’s team self-performed the following scopes:
- Structural concrete
- Depressed freezer slabs
- Truck scale foundation
- Interior mezzanine wood structure
- Exterior wood accent wall
- Interior stairs
- Miscellaneous installations
The project team encountered multiple situations that required quick thinking and flexible maneuvering, including:
- The late addition of a truck scale.
- Jurisdictional requirements to change the site utility design
Both of these examples required coordinated efforts to provide the most timely and economical solutions for our client. Senior Project Manager, Jacob Leighter, recalls that “we had several onsite meetings with the city, Owner, Design Team, and Excavation Subcontractor to resolve the site utility problem quickly to keep the project moving.”
In the end, the project was successfully delivered by the project team.
Perlo Team
Jacob Leighter | Senior Project Manager
Steve Dusenberry | Superintendent
Philip Overbye | Foreman
Brooke Carswell | APM
Jadyn Bentley | Admin Assistant
Final Thoughts
Perlo embraces the opportunity to prove our ability to adapt to and persevere over any challenges or adversity that might arise in the course of our projects. Our Perlo Practice #2, “Solutions show up as problems” is the core of our approach to any project. We pride ourselves on the creative and innovative thinking our team brings to the table that ultimately drives our success. We look forward to continued growth across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Perlo’s projects in 2022 represented a diverse group of market sectors that reflect a hopeful outlook of what lies ahead for our community. Perlo continues to expand its geographic reach, with this years’ projects spanning across the metro area into Southwest Washington and beyond. While we may be best known for our work with new tilt-up construction, our list for today includes a wide variety of project types, demonstrating the depth of talent on our team, as well as the versatility and flexibility in our work.
This week we are taking a look at the interstate and regional projects that took us from the Oregon Coast to Northwest Washington.

Bay Area Hospital Pharmacy Renovation
Completed in the Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay, Oregon, this project was unique in that the work was completed within an existing and occupied hospital. The renovation and expansion focused on the Clean Suite, Receiving Area, Office, and Medical Supply Room. The project also included a new exterior shaft and mechanical room that had to be constructed around and fully enclose the existing shaft and mechanical rooms.

Preconstruction required inventive planning with the design team and hospital ownership. Schedule delays from the air handler unit manufacturer resulted in a shift to the design with a removable section of the exterior wall so that the air handler could be craned into place after the construction of the new mechanical room was complete. Another unique aspect of this project included maintaining existing pharmacy operations by assisting the ownership and design teams in acquiring the necessary permits to temporarily relocate the pharmacy during construction. According to Project Manager, Taylor Regier, “this allowed the project to be constructed in essentially one phase.”



Perlo’s crews self-performed a variety of elements, including:
- Selective demolition
- ICRA barriers and temporary protection
- Trench pour backs and housekeeping pads
- DFH installation
- Miscellaneous building installations
Major challenges the project team faced included manufacturer caused equipment delays, unknown conditions revealed during selective demolition, and persistent Oregon Coast rainfall. With a lot of flexibility and creativity, the team was able to work with the local AHJ to pass inspections and receive the necessary approvals to successfully complete the project and get the pharmacy back to a fully operational status.
Perlo Team
Thomas Quesenberry | Project Director
Taylor Regier | Project Manager
Christian Rohr | Superintendent
Brooke Carswell | APM
DSW3 Burlington
This project included the development of a 25-acre site and a new 111,000 SF Amazon Delivery Station. The concrete tilt-up building includes dock doors, employee break areas and restrooms, extensive sitework, and also included the installation of extensive infrastructure for several electric vehicle charging stations.

Located North of Seattle, this delivery station was constructed in the airspace enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration. Project Manager Joshua Swake describes “working in FAA air space and having to navigate their requirements was both a special consideration during preconstruction planning and an ongoing challenge, as well.” With consistent communication and record-keeping, the team was able to keep the schedule on track.



The Perlo work crews self-performed the following scopes:
- Structural concrete work, including foundations, slabs, and tilt walls
- Doors, frames, and hardware installation
- Toilet accessories and partitions installation
The specific location required a considerable amount of coordination with multiple agencies to fulfill their requirements. Embracing challenges is what our teams do best, so with significant communication and consistent processes in place, the team was able to complete the job on time and with satisfied end-users.
Perlo Team
Thomas Quesenberry | Project Director
Jacob Leighter | Senior Project Manager
Joshua Swake | Project Manager
Mike Norris | Superintendent
Lance Livingston | Superintendent
Regan Cloudy | Project Engineer
McKayla Marshall | APM
Evelyn Moran | Admin Assistant
Block 10 Tenant Improvement
Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, Washington, this multi-story built-out in a new mixed-used building was completed by our Special Projects Group. Impressive details bring out the true personality of this building with floor-to-ceiling windows, high-end finishes, and unique construction materials utilized throughout. One of the more unique features is the use of Falkbuilt wall paneling, which is a sustainable, prefabricated wall covering that helps improve installation efficiencies when compared to drywall.

A key challenge of this project was that the tenant improvement was occurring at the same time that a separate general contractor was completing the shell. This combined with the urban location of the building meant that our SPG team had to ensure clear communication and collaboration with the core project team as well as the other contractor to successfully complete this unique project.



Perlo’s SPG team self-performed the following scopes:
- Doors, frames, and hardware installation
- Trim installation
- Restroom accessories installation
- Miscellaneous finish carpentry
The design included an impressive array of high-end finishes from the ceilings to the wall treatments to the light fixtures. Senior Manager, Jeff Hankins explains “the amount of detail work performed to create the finished space is hard to fully appreciate.” Overall, the project was highly rewarding because of the lessons learned for future projects, the relationships built with partners on the project, and the opportunity to be innovative, resourceful, and collaborative throughout the process.
Perlo Team
Jeff Hankins | Senior Manager, SPG
Kory Stark | Superintendent
Brent Schmitz | Superintendent
Ted Hill | Superintendent
Kathy Ohannessian | APM
Jadyn Bentley | Admin Assistant
Evelyn Moran | Admin Assistant
Ridgefield Industrial Center
Recently completed on a 50-acre site, this speculative warehouse space consists of concrete tilt-up panels with open web joists and a metal deck roof system as well as thirty-six feet of clear height throughout. Preparing site required coordination with local authorities for extensive wetland mitigation and included public right-of-way improvements.

The project team faced record levels of rainfall during the construction work. As we discussed in a previous post titled, “Wet Weather Construction Challenges”, these conditions have an enormous impact on the schedule and scope of work. Project Manager Nate Brown explained that creative scheduling to pour concrete in tight windows of time was a large part of their strategy.



Perlo’s SPG team self-performed the following scopes:
- Structural concrete including foundations, slabs, and tilt panels
- Doors, frames, and hardware installation
- Miscellaneous accessories installation
Another challenge the team faced was delays in permitting due to the small-town jurisdiction lacking the resources to manage the high demand of requested permits in this growing market. Despite all these obstacles, the team was able to stay on track and complete the project efficiently and expediently. Nate remarked that, “the project team was excellent, we worked well together and even in the challenging times we kept our focus on the tasks at hand to complete the job.”
Ridgefield Industrial Center was also the focus of The Perlo Podcast, which can be found on your favorite listening platforms or by visiting our Newsroom.
Perlo Team
Chris McInroe | Project Director
Drew Carter | Senior Project Manager
Nate Brown | Project Manager
George Trice | Superintendent
Cy Whitmore | Foreman
Crystal Bentley | APM
Final Thoughts
Perlo embraces the opportunity to prove our ability to adapt to and persevere over any challenges or adversity that might arise in the course of our projects. Our Perlo Practice #2, “Solutions show up as problems” is the core of our approach to any project. We pride ourselves on the creative and innovative thinking our team brings to the table that ultimately drives our success. We look forward to continued growth across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

“This is The Perlo Podcast. We talk construction – it’s people, it’s challenges, it’s opportunities. We talk to industry and trade experts, movers and shakers, and people who get buildings built right. Join us. You won’t regret it.”
For full episodes you can visit our YouTube page or search “The Perlo Podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome back to Episode 8 of the Perlo Podcast! Podcast host Elissa Looney, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Perlo Construction, is joined by Devin Koopman, Vice President of Construction, and Joe York, General Superintendent. In today’s podcast, we’re going to explore site logistics in construction, which are a critical piece of the planning and execution of construction sites.

Podcast Host & Director of Strategic Initiatives

Vice President of Construction Services

General Superintendent
What are Site Logistics
Site logistics can be thought of as the foundation that sets up an efficient and safe construction site while making the process easy and keeping the project on schedule. It involves factors such as:
- How crews move around the site
- Where materials are stored
- Where signage should be located
- How traffic and equipment can efficiently move in and out of the site
- How to keep crews and visitors safe
- Where to locate job trailers
Devin notes that schedule logistics are rarely shown in the drawings and often don’t get as much attention as they require. It is critical to be proactive and consider all items of a project when planning site logistics. Preconstruction efforts are the “recipe” for an effective project. When preconstruction takes place, we look at the current plan and drawings for the current site logistics and try to understand what the end result will be. Logistics range from job to job and are a huge factor in a successful project outcome.
When considering the current climate of supply chain issues and long lead times, it may be necessary to procure materials early. In this case, project teams must be able to purchase or lease extra land offsite to hold materials. Joe explains that our teams have had to get creative and think outside of the box to find additional storage area for materials.

Elissa adds that having space for materials shortage has become a much bigger factor in today’s day and age, as companies aren’t able to get “just-in-time” delivery if they want to guarantee that they will receive the materials on time.
“The fact is that there aren’t as many large lots for people to develop anymore,” remarks Joe. He elaborates that because of this, it can be difficult to find space to lay down materials, park trucks and trailers, and actually build the building. According to Joe, “if you can’t get a neighboring property to make your footprint larger for the build, you’ve got to get creative.” Planning ahead for these aspects of a project gives teams more opportunity to be innovative when utilizing space and being proactive when addressing potential issues.
How Do We Use Site Logistics to Create Efficiencies on Jobsites?
Devin uses an example about concrete to answer this question, noting that here at Perlo, “we like to pour concrete, and we like to pour a lot of it.” He goes on to explain that often times, our teams conduct concrete pours at 2AM to maximize efficiencies. Early morning pours are great, according to Joe, because there is no traffic and the concrete gets poured before the weather gets too hot in the summertime. When there are anywhere from 50-70 trucks expected to come and go from your project with concrete at a dark hour, site logistics become that much more important. Factors to be considered can range from how to get the trucks in and out to where the pump trucks need to be staged and even accommodating for residential neighborhood time restrictions. “Time is money, so you need to get them in and off your site as quickly as possible,” explains Devin.
One way to accomplish this is with directional signage, especially when dealing with third-party companies that may not be as familiar with the site as the project team. Elissa adds that a big part of site logistics includes the process during emergencies. It is crucial, and even lifesaving, to ensure that emergency vehicles have proper access to and from the site, with clear access routes and individuals available to wave them down.
Joe agrees, and remarks that orientation of a project always includes information on where crews should meet in the case of emergency, where emergency vehicles can access the site, and other important logistics.
How Do Jurisdictions Affect Site Logistics Plans?
Between jurisdictions ranging from federal, state, county, city, and even local neighborhood associations, site logistics plans can vary astronomically. One of the biggest variances is in regard to permitting. Certain jurisdictions may not inspect the same items that project teams are accustomed to in the Portland Metro Area. There is often a steep learning curve to understand what a specific jurisdiction requires and what works on a given site.
Joe gives an example of a project in Eureka, California, that restricted the altering of any land with a specific “weed of interest”. On a similar project in Sacramento, California, crews had to get trained up on how to deal with protected animals on the jobsite, such as lizards. And on another project, teams even dealt with planning around migrating turtles. These examples just go to show that there are factors that simply can’t be planned until you understand the geographical area that your jobsite is on, and enforces why project teams need to stay on their toes and keep an open mind and backup plan handy.
“What makes sense on day one might not make sense on day 60.”
Do Site Logistics Plans Change Throughout the Project?
According to Devin, site logistics can be like a football game. To have a successful site logistics plan, you need to “call audibles”. Calling an audible in football refers to when the play is changed at the line of scrimmage by yelling out a new play. “The fact that you may be digging a utility trench for the electrician on the same day as your concrete pour means you’ve really got to roll with the punches.” explains Devin.
Manpower Loading and Site Logistics
We quickly backtrack to site efficiencies, specifically related to trailer placement, crew parking, access to the building, and how all of those factors tie into crew efficiencies. Joe notes that it all ties back to working the job backward. When thinking about tenant improvements, the ability to find milestones in the schedule and make a plan of logistical attack can help avoid stacking trades on top of one another and creates ease of scheduling subcontractors.
Although site logistics may have gotten more complicated with COVID-19, Joe remarks, “I think it gave us insight on how we can do better.”
Final Thoughts
Site logistics in construction are critical to a successful construction project and an enjoyable experience. There is a fine balance between preplanning, being proactive, and adapting on the fly, and site logistics give you the best opportunity to do just that. A big thank you to Joe York and Devin Koopman for their insight on today’s topic! Make sure to subscribe to The Perlo Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

“This is The Perlo Podcast. We talk construction – it’s people, it’s challenges, it’s opportunities. We talk to industry and trade experts, movers and shakers, and people who get buildings built right. Join us. You won’t regret it.”
For full episodes you can visit our YouTube page or search “The Perlo Podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome back to Episode Seven of the Perlo Podcast! Podcast host Elissa Looney, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Perlo Construction, is joined by Superintendent George Trice and Project Manager Nate Brown, two members of the project team for one of Perlo’s current projects in Ridgefield, Washington.

Podcast Host & Director of Strategic Initiatives

Project Manager

Superintendent
Overview of Ridgefield Industrial
Ridgefield Industrial is a 480,000 SF core and shell concrete tilt-up warehouse on a 50-acre site being built for Specht. Project teams are about three-quarters of the way through the project, with the total duration spanning about eleven months.
George Trice, Project Superintendent at Perlo Construction, explains that the walls have already been tilted and the roof is about 70% completed. In this specific project, project teams are waiting to pour the truck loading docks until the last minute to allow time for a potential tenant to come in, as they are hoping to do some tenant improvements later on. The team is currently ahead of schedule, and they expect to finish the project a month ahead of schedule.
George explains that although they are now expecting to finish the project a month early, this wasn’t always the case. Times were tougher over the winter, but the crews were able to tackle a few critical items early, such as the truck aprons, that pushed the project schedule ahead.
Nate Brown, one of Perlo’s Project Mangers, states that he’s learned quite a bit since being out on the site. As a visual learner, being on the site in person a few days a week to see what’s going on has allowed him to learn exponentially about building in commercial construction.

General Process of Concrete Tilt-ups
The process for concrete tilt-ups is generally straight-forward. From stripping the site and concrete-treating the soil to digging footings for the slab, the end goal is the have the panels come off the ground when it is time to tilt. One unique factor of concrete tilt-ups is that you don’t run the slab where the wall is going to be. As panels tilt up and sit on footings, there is about a 10-foot gap between the wall and the slab. Once the roof is tied in, project teams start backfilling and do a pour-strip around the building. This is critical, as both the rebar that is coming out of your panels and the roof system all have to tie into the slab perfectly.
Site Challenges
George and Nate explain that the biggest challenge on this site was the rain. Every pour that the team conducted was followed by rain, which meant that bond breaker couldn’t be added to the slab. Bond breaker is what keeps the newly poured panel layers from sticking to the slab and is a necessity for panel tilts. The project team and field crews had to take a more innovative route to solve this problem by working over the weekend when the weather was nicer to get as much water off the panels as possible.
Final Thoughts
Like what you hear? Check out the full podcast to see a tour of this in-progress project!
The industrial real estate market has been booming for several years and is anticipated to continue its upward trajectory for the near future. Fueled by increases in e-commerce, a strong economy and a heightened desire to keep inventory levels high, the demand for industrial buildings remains strong. In fact, Q3 2021 saw a record-breaking 448.9 million square feet of industrial space under construction in the United States.
A lesser discussed topic in the industrial market is that of continued maintenance. Concrete tilt-up buildings make up a large share of the industrial market, and while they’re relatively simple building systems, they do require maintenance over time.
Today, we will spend some time discussing the common maintenance items that building owners and users should keep in mind to keep their assets in premium condition.

1. Major Mechanical, Electrical, Fire Protection and Plumbing Systems
Every building contains some form of mechanical, electrical, plumbing & fire protection systems (MEPF), ranging from very simple to extremely complex. Best practice is to hire licensed contractors to perform routine maintenance on these systems, completing items such as filter and belt replacements on HVAC units; routine inspections on circuit breakers, and bulb replacements; fire alarm tests; sprinkler system flushing; and more.
Once a contractor turns over the building to the owner or manager following construction, the maintenance of these systems is no longer the responsibility of the general contractor (barring any contractual agreements to the contrary).
While it’s generally advised for the original vendors to complete the maintenance work, it is also possible to hire another company for this purpose. Remember to provide clear expectations to ensure you acquire comparable proposals for maintenance work and review the maintenance contract at regular intervals.
As part of the close-out process, a good general contractor will provide contact information for the installing subcontractor team so the owner can consider retaining them for ongoing maintenance.

2. Roofing Systems
Industrial buildings are commonly a shallow sloped roof structure with a built-up roofing membrane, a Thermoset (EPDM) roof membrane, or a Thermoplastic (TPO) roof membrane. Each roofing type has different specifications for installation and maintenance. These include details on roof penetrations, drainage and maintenance requirements for best practices and maintaining the roof warranty.
Regular roof maintenance programs will investigate and repair, among other items:
- The presence of debris, particularly in corners or drains
- Cracks or tears in the roofing material
- Soundness of the material at roof penetrations
- Soft spots signifying rot or structural failure
- Sheet metal cap flashing, scuppers and gutter inspections
- Pooling water
Finding these anomalies as early as possible lowers the cost of repairs. Some items may even be included in the base maintenance agreement.
Depending on the complexity of the roof system, the location of the building and the contractual agreement, roof maintenance will most often be performed on a quarterly or semi-annual schedule. It’s important to review the terms of the warranty documents for each particular roofing system. Neglecting roof maintenance will negate any warranties.

3. Exterior Painting and Caulking
Exterior paint and caulking are critical to maintaining a weather-proof building envelope. The specific type of paint and caulk will largely depend on the building’s geographic location and environmental conditions. For instance, here in the Pacific Northwest where wet weather is prevalent, we advise the use of elastomeric paint. This paint can help to bridge micro-cracking in concrete to prevent water penetration.
Caulking at panel joints, windows and doors, and other wall penetrations is another key part of weather-proofing a building. It’s critical that caulking be fit for the specific use, flexible enough to withstand some flex in the building and durable enough to withstand the local weather conditions.
As a general rule and especially in the Pacific Northwest, it’s advisable to review building caulk for defects and touch-ups, as well as to re-paint the exterior at five-year intervals, approximately. If your building is located in another environment, ask a trusted painting and caulking contractor what the recommended interval is for maintenance of these elements.


4. Interior Concrete Slabs
The quality of a concrete slab is primarily based on two factors: First, the quality upon installation; and second, the way it is maintained over time. Some recommended maintenance procedures include:
- Complete regular sweeping to remove all debris from floor joints and traffic aisles.
- Repair cracks or spalls as soon as they occur to avoid further degradation.
- Spot clean spills as quickly as possible.
- For polished concrete, utilize floor sweepers and cleaners at regular intervals, and utilize only manufacturer approved chemicals for cleaning.
- Ensure forklift tires and other machinery wheels are clean and smooth.
- Install chemical resistant epoxy coatings at all areas subject to regular drainage or chemicals.
It’s also advisable to caulk at all floor joints to prevent debris from accumulating. Regular forklift or machinery traffic traveling over debris-filled joints can quickly lead to damage. Without proper repairs, this damage can spread exponentially. Know that it is natural for concrete to crack. Strategically placed control joints and a firm foundation will help to minimize them. Minor cracking is not typically a structural issue.

5. Exterior Parking and Sidewalks
Parking lots are normally asphaltic paving or concrete paving, with asphaltic paving being the most common in the Pacific Northwest. These surfaces hold up well, but some maintenance over time is important to avoid the need for replacement. Below are some general tips to keep your exterior surfaces in tip-top shape:
- Ensure that grades are sloped away from the building, including sidewalks and landscaping.
- Install a seal-coat at regular intervals, particularly in heavily-trafficked areas.
- Patch potholes as quickly as possible to prevent further degradation. If potholes routinely re-occur, consult an excavator or civil engineer for a more permanent fix, as this is likely a sub-surface issue.
- Watch for ‘alligator’ cracking, where extensive cracking in a scale-like pattern emerges. This typically indicates a sub-surface issue and will need more than surface-level patching.
- Pressure wash surfaces to prevent accumulations of algae or chemicals, particularly if salt or deicer is used in the winter months.
- Consider installing bollards or parking stops to prevent vehicles from driving into pedestrian areas or damaging curbs.
- Plant trees with root systems that will not damage nearby sidewalk or asphalt and allow them plenty of space from hard surfaces. The City of Portland has an approved street tree planting list that provides some guidance.
While the cost for routine maintenance may seem high, the cost to replace areas of pavement or sidewalk is generally much higher.
Final Thoughts
No matter which piece of the building we discuss, proactive maintenance is far more cost-effective than reactive maintenance. Engaging specialty contractors to complete regular maintenance protocols from the time the building is complete and over the course of its lifetime will lead to lower costs over time, a higher quality space and, in the case of leased space, happier tenants.
Continuing with our Year in Review series for 2021, this week we’re focusing on a few of our industrial projects. From ground up construction to tenant improvements, our teams have completed projects in a variety of sub-markets this year.
Frederickson DWA7
The Frederickson DWA7 project consisted of a new, 144,000 SF tilt-up concrete building to house an Amazon Distribution center. The new building features two 42,000 SF canopies and twelve high speed roll-up doors for van loading usage, a concrete loading dock with fourteen dock positions outfitted with pit levelers and overhead doors. Additionally, there is 14,000 SF of office and multiple remote restrooms.
To carry out the work, the teams logged and cleared a 38-acre site, constructed a full public road extension through the site, completed wetland mitigation and six stormwater infiltration galleries.
Perlo’s crews self-performed a variety of elements, including:
- Structural concrete including foundations, slab on grade and tilt walls
- Miscellaneous accessories installation such as lockers, plan holder racks, and roof accessories
- Doors, frames & hardware installation
The project faced significant permit delays, including having to wait for the right-of-way work permit until late July in lieu of the anticipated February date. Post permit approval, the jurisdiction asked for several revisions to their required scope of work, such as changes to the rapid flash beacon specifications, adding a new video detection system, more light poles at the street, and more. With responsiveness and expediting materials, the team persisted to complete the work.
Final inspections occurred at the end of November, though the structures were complete and occupied several months prior. Once Amazon moved into the building, they asked us to complete multiple ongoing projects to modify the space for their needs. The neighboring tenant also requested additional work items, such as fencing and signage.
Senior Project Manager, Jacob Leighter, noted that
“Ray did a fantastic job of pushing the overall schedule. Several Amazon executives noted that we were much further ahead on our schedule that other general contractors working on buildings for them across the country. Michael, Mitchell and Nick really worked hard to juggle all of the County revisions and the work involved in carrying out that work.”
Perlo Team
Thomas Quesenberry | Project Director
Jacob Leighter | Senior Project Manager
Mitchell Powers | Project Engineer
Michael Terryah | Project Engineer
Ray Vigue | Superintendent
Nick Conner | Superintendent
Tim Dorey | Foreman
Kevin Ripp | Foreman
Kayla Davis | APM
Evelyn Moran | Admin Assistant
224 Logistics Park

224 Logistics is comprised of an existing multi-building campus with the primary emphasis on voluntary seismic upgrades to the main warehouse. This warehouse is approximately 1,000,000 SF and construction work included structural seismic work, re-roofing the entire building, as well as painting of the main warehouse and freezer buildings.
The building was constructed over many years, with the original building for United Grocers built in 1952, with multiple additions between then and now. The key plan to the right demonstrates the many additions and year.
The structural work included seismic upgrades with roof strapping and nailing during the re-roofing, new cast-in-place walls and footings, and wood beams for structural support. Interior work included demising walls to allow for multi-tenant leasing and separating the chilled areas from the dry goods warehouse space. Exterior work included painting and an asphalt grind and overlay, new skylights and roof accessories, roofing, roof crickets and drains, and sealing up gaps below the dock doors with fabricated screens. In addition, we replaced dock doors, demolished the banana rooms and all associated mechanical equipment.
The Perlo work crews self-performed the following scopes:
- Seismic upgrades
- Dry-rot repairs
- Roof decking
- Concrete footings Installation
- Cast-in-place walls
- Roof crickets and accessories
The project was located in a residential area, so our teams spent time ensuring the neighbors The team completed approximately 3-months of discovery work to identify and clarify the full scope of the work required. Our teams began construction while the building was partially occupied, though it was vacant by the time the seismic upgrades started. To accommodate the tenant, our teams started work the newest parts of the building, and then worked towards the remainder of the space as the tenant vacated.
Of the project, Project Manager Adam Smelley notes,
“The project was unique since the building was constructed from 1952 through 1991. About every 8 years they would do an addition, which meant that nothing was consistent. Additionally, maintenance hadn’t been done well. So, it was an interesting space to work in and find solutions to the problems we found.”
Perlo Team
Adam Smelley | Project Manager
Jacob Carr | Project Engineer
Eric Huth | Lead Superintendent
Mike Pillster | Superintendent – CIP Walls
Mark Helling | Superintendent – Roofing
Glen McDaniel | Foreman
Kayla Davis | APM
Brooke Carswell | Admin Assistant
Jadyn Bentley | Admin Assistant
OBRC New Office Building and Warehouse
This new can and bottle recycling center consisted of a new concrete tilt-up building with 38,000 SF of two-story office space and 103,000 SF of 28-foot clear height warehouse. The office space included a large entry vestibule, multiple restrooms and breakrooms, open workspaces, and executive offices. Uniquely, OBRC required Quiet Rock on all exposed warehouse to office demising walls, and all MEP penetrations had to be sealed to reduce warehouse noise and fumes from infiltrating the office.
Site preparations included a large retaining wall and an abnormally deep sanitary pump system, as well as extensive groundwater control with a new wetland mitigation pond. The presence of excessive groundwater required installation of dewatering well points during earthwork, site development and foundation installation. Permanent groundwater infiltration detention systems were installed to handle the excessive underground water and direct it to the wetland.
One challenge on this project included a delay in getting permanent power to the building through PGE. This required the construction team to build out the office space prior to having permanent power installed. Special attention had to be paid to quality material delivery with limited lighting available during construction.
OBRC had a hard deadline to be moved out of their previous space. Our team worked diligently with Clackamas County to ensure permits could be achieved and OBRC’s move dates could be met. The project duration was 10.5 months. Perlo continues to work with OBRC to complete bottle drop facilities in multiple locations.
Jacob Leighter, Senior Project Manager said,
“They were a great client to work with and I enjoyed being on their team. It’s great that we can keep working with them on other projects.’ Superintendent Darrell Budge agrees, stating that, ‘all of the players on this project were great. I really like the OBRC team.”
Perlo Team
Jacob Leighter | Senior Project Manager
Darrell Budge | Superintendent
Isaac Hobb | Foreman
Kayla Davis | APM
Evelyn Moran | Admin Assistant
Columbia Distributing Headquarters TI
In addition to Columbia Distributing’s new warehouse in Canby, Perlo’s teams completed a second generation build-out for their new West Coast office headquarters, as well. This reimagined office space now includes workstations, private offices and 48 ancillary areas including conference rooms, a breakroom, collaboration areas and even a pub.
By expanding into this new space, the company is further allowed to grow and remain in close proximity to their warehouse. The space included high end finishes, complete with indoor plants. The pub is a highlight of the space. Perlo built the original core, shell and former tenant space, so we didn’t find any surprises in terms of the building itself. However, the project was constructed in the height of the pandemic as well as the wildfires that ravaged the region. In spite of all this, the team kept the project on schedule.
Perlo teams self-performed the following scopes:
- Miscellaneous accessories
- Doors, frames & hardware
- Plumbing pour back for trenches
Jordan Peterson, Senior Project Manager for space, said of the project,
“It was a great team. JLL was the owner’s representative and LRS was the architect. Despite COVID and wildfires and everything, the team was in good spirits. The project meetings were the most fun I’ve ever had. There was so much laughter. It was great”
Perlo Team
Jordan Peterson | Senior Project Manager
Kory Stark | Superintendent
Joshua Swake | Project Manager
Composites One
The Composites One building includes a new, concrete tilt-up warehouse which needed to comply with H3 occupancy requirements. Of the 73,000sf of new building, 45,000 SF is being utilized by Composites One for their composite material distribution business which serves the hi-tech and wind energy manufacturing sectors. The remaining portion was built as speculative warehouse space for a future tenant, which Perlo recently completed for Article.com.
The project was built on a mitigated wetland, which had to be reviewed and approved by the Army Corp. of Engineers before construction could begin. In addition, this land was potentially an archeologically sensitive site, which meant that there was the possibility for native American artifacts to be found during excavation operations. This meant that a full-time archaeological representative had to be onsite to ensure no elements were disturbed if found.
Elements of the project included a small office, specialty auxiliary rooms for their materials that required specialty HVAC systems for temperature control and exhaust, as well as explosion proof wiring.
The H3 occupancy required the following elements be completed over the course of construction:
- Fireproofing of steel deck, joists and columns
- Explosion proof wiring
- Gas lines run on the roof in lieu of inside like usual
- Recessed interior slab-on-grade for containment purposes
Perlo teams self-performed the following scopes:
- Concrete, including sloped slab on grade, foundations & tilt walls
- Miscellaneous accessories installation
- Doors, frames & hardware installation
- Roof accessories installation
One unique element of this work besides the challenges that the Coronavirus pandemic presented was that the building team was located all across the country. The architect was out of Iowa, the owner in Chicago, the distribution staff in Texas, and another owner’s representative was in California.
As Senior Project Manager Jordan Peterson said,
“we talked to representatives from every region during each team call, and they compared lessons learned from across the country. The client knew what they were doing, and what they wanted, and we delivered.”
Perlo Team
Todd Duwe | Project Executive
Jordan Peterson | Senior Project Manager
Regan Cloudy | Field Engineer
Jack Johnson | Superintendent
Wally Adkins | Foreman
Kayla Davis | APM
Evelyn Moran | Admin Assistant
Final Thoughts
Stay tuned for next week, when we look back at more of our completed in 2021 projects!
We have recently received a lot of questions about one of our most visible projects located at the corner of Tualatin Sherwood Road and 124th in Tualatin, Oregon. That question is a resounding, ‘what is that large rock pile for?’ The simple answer is that this temporary mountain of crushed rock is a result of a mining operation to flatten a site that had 60’ of elevation change prior to the work beginning. Today we’ll explore beyond the large rock pile and provide an overview of the work taking place at Tualatin Sherwood Corporate Park (TS Corporate Park). This 32-acre development is striving for LEED certification and will be home to three speculative industrial buildings with a completion date in early 2022.

The Tualatin Sherwood Corporate Park Development
This full site development includes three new industrial buildings with all associated site-work and public street improvements. The three finished structures will include:
Building C: 271,581 sf concrete tilt-up shell
Building D: 145,624 sf concrete tilt-up shell
Building E: 62,212 sf concrete tilt-up shell
Each building is of concrete tilt-up construction with dock doors, drive-in doors, concrete interior slabs, ample parking and semi-truck traffic routes. Built on a speculative basis, these are currently available to lease through Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) and Macadam Forbes.
The Excavation and Mining Work
To level the site, excavating company Kerr Contractors is completing more than 1 million cubic yards of excavation work, including the blasting and mining of nearly 600,000 cubic yards of rock. The visible rock stockpile is made up of roughly 1/3 of that yardage, with the prior 1/3 already consumed by off-site locations, and about 1/3 left to be mined and relocated.

Of the crushed rock generated on the site, about 60,000 cubic yards have been used or will soon be utilized for building foundations, parking lot subgrades and the public access improvements to extend Cipole Road into the site. The remainder will be used for other jobsites that Perlo and/or Kerr Contractors is completing or sold for consumption by other contractors off-site.
To accomplish the large rock removal operation, a concrete crusher was installed onsite with a weigh-station so that rock can be crushed, stored, then loaded, weighed, and sold directly from the TS Corporate Park site. At completion, the crushing operation will be dismantled and removed.
The mining operation has consisted of blasting at least once weekly since the work began. The largest blasting work has been completed previously, with more surgical blasting and mining continuing from now until nearly the end of the year to round out that scope of work.
To complicate the mining operation, the construction of the new concrete tilt-up structures began long before the blasting work was planned to finish. To accommodate the concrete pours, Perlo and Kerr teams have regularly coordinated to prevent damage to the new concrete. Some strategies to avoid concrete damage include:
- Timing blasting to avoid vibration within at least 7 days of any concrete pour. This may require blasting twice in lieu of once so that rock crushing operations can be maintained while concrete is poured and cures.
- The installation of vibration sensors in the ground to track movement due to blasting and ensure that vibration levels are low enough to maintain the integrity of the building structures.
The mining operation is running 7 days per week and 24 hours per day to maintain the owner’s desired schedule. Permitting took place through the City of Sherwood, as well as Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue to ensure that communication and safety between the local areas and the site are well planned and maintained. So why is there such a large pile of rock? Quite simply, the mining and crushing is taking place faster than the rock can be sold and consumed off-site. We anticipate that all the rock will be removed by year-end. Until then, we watch it grow, change, and soon be minimized to a level site.
Site Utility Tie-ins
Previously undeveloped, the site needed all new power, water, storm and sewer systems to be installed. Logistically, tying these utilities into the site has been one of the challenges of the work. The new sewer line, for instance, had to be tied into the existing city sewer system located across Oregon street at the Western corner of the site. The 12” pipe had to run very near to a local dental office, with boring under Oregon street to be completed. In addition to standard utility connections for the buildings, the development will include several new electric vehicle charging stations, complete with the infrastructure to provide adequate power to these units.
Unique Site Features
Aside from the significant excavation work, the site includes some unique features:
- A soil nail shotcrete retaining wall that is 15’ tall at its highest point.
- A natural rock wall adjacent to the shotcrete wall where the primary rock mining work is taking place. This wall is 40’ at it’s highest point.
- A new street extension to bring Cipole road into the site, complete with a new streetlight.
- Significant lengths of lock + load retaining walls near the street.
- Large onsite water retention ponds for stormwater management.
- Electric vehicle charging stations.
Critical Site Logistics
The presence of more than 75 trade workers and truck drivers each day means that site safety and clear logistics planning are critical to delivering a successful project. Though the site is quite large, much of it has been taken up by the mining operation and storage of rock. Additionally, there is the construction of three buildings, sitework, and the trucking needed to export the rock all taking place at the same time. These factors make for a logistical challenge that has taken expertise and extensive communication to overcome.
Some of the strategies we are using to ensure the safety and efficiency of the site include:
- Amy Cook, a full time safety team member on the site to help maintain a safe construction site.
- Regular site meetings with all subcontractors involved are held to maintain communication and coordination.
- Clear signage and traffic routes onsite.
- Pre-determined materials laydown areas and crew parking locations.
- Extensive pre-planning and routine reviews and updates to that plan as the work progresses.
Extensive communications protocols, pre-planning and some creativity have led to a safe, clean and organized site.
LEED Certification
All three buildings are aiming for LEED certification at completion. Some strategies used to attain this certification include minimizing contaminants in all building materials, and sourcing local materials. Additional measures for LEED certification will take place for the tenant improvement work when the spaces are leased to a tenant.
Final Thoughts
The TS Corporate project has been a shining example of complex site logistics and communications strategies. As one of our more publicly visible sites, it has been an honor to have the opportunity to talk to so many community members about the work being completed there. We look forward to completing the project this Fall.
If you’d like to know more about our construction services or want to get in touch, please visit our services page or contact us here.
With significant challenges resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, it has taken extra dedication and teamwork from our people, clients, design partners and subcontractors to keep pushing through and getting things done. We take pride in delivering projects on time, with the utmost quality, no matter the circumstances. We wanted to celebrate this by looking back at some of projects in 2020 and give shout outs to the teams that brought the projects to life.
In partnership with our building community this year, we have:

Completed 8 million square feet of new or remodeled construction.
Donated to more than 14 local, charitable causes.
Hosted 3 blood drives in our office building – with one more planned before the end of the year!
Donated more than $15,000 in free meals to our community through our #rebuildtogether campaign.
Collected 420 coats and 63 toys for the Angels in the Outfield Holiday Store.
Employed 9 collegiate summer interns.
We are grateful to have so many partnerships within our community that allow us to employ the best people in the industry, and to positively impact the communities we live in.
Project Highlights
Although we work in nearly every market sector, Perlo is best known in the industrial market. So it only makes sense that we pay homage to this sector first. This week’s blog is dedicated to a few of the industrial projects that we completed in 2020.
Project Shakespeare – Columbia Distributing | Canby, OR
Columbia Distributing’s new warehouse on a 42-acre site is now the largest warehouse in Canby and one of the largest recently built in the Portland metro region. The space allowed Columbia Distributing to consolidate its three locations in Northwest Portland into one place. Coined “Project Shakespeare” by developer, Trammell Crow Company, this project consisted of a concrete tilt-up shell with steel joists, and metal deck with a TPO membrane roof. Included in the facility is approximately 17,000 SF of class A office space and warehouse improvements consisting of 46 truck bays with dock pit levelers, parking for 91 truck trailers and space for an additional 56 future dock truck bays. Also included is a 53,000 SF cooler inside of the warehouse.
Jacob Leighter, Project Manager at Perlo said, ‘the project was designed and set up very well from the beginning by the design team (LRS Architects and VLMK Engineering + Design), developer Trammell Crow and Perlo. That allowed us to really push subcontractors through the finish line – on-time – despite the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic that hit during the last few months of the project.
The work was completed in June of 2020 and had a 13 month schedule duration. Jacob notes that ‘the entire project team was fun, light hearted and productive. It was genuinely a great group of people with the same end goal in mind, and that made a fast-paced and complicated project feel easy.’
Owner
Trammell Crow Company
Architect
LRS Architects
Engineer
VLMK Engineering + Design
Perlo Team
Randy Cooper
Jacob Leighter
Dustin Vigue
Kathi Gehrts
JSR Micro, Inc.| Hillsboro, OR
The JSR Micro, Inc. facility is a new, 79,000 SF chemical blending factory in Hillsboro, Oregon. Completed in September of 2020, Perlo Construction had the overall responsibility under a design-build contract for survey, soils investigation, design, permitting, construction and commissioning. The client was looking for one-stop shopping so that a single party would be responsible for all facets of the project. The design was based on replicating an existing semiconductor liquid chemical mixing factory in Hokkaichi, Japan, modified for US permitting and building codes requirements.
The JSR Micro, Inc. project was made up of concrete tilt-up construction with steel joists, metal decking and includes clean rooms ranging from class 100 to class 100,000. Specialized systems include an Ultra Pure Water (UPW) system, a nitrogen system, an Acid Waste Neutralization (AWN) system and Deionized (DI) water systems.
This project was complex and fast paced, and over the course of construction faced a variety of hurdles. This project was the largest dollar value project Perlo has completed at more than 80 million and was 100% design-build with Mackenzie as our design partner. Challenges included re-working the tank yard to meet local building codes, resolving a fire-proofing issue with the local inspector, and completing issuance of the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy during the wildfires, city closures and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chris Gregg, who was the executive in charge of the work, said his favorite part of the project was the camaraderie of the building team. The complexity and scope of the work was a battle, but all parties persevered to complete the project within the owner’s budget and schedule.
Owner
JSR Micro, Inc.
Architect and Engineer
Mackenzie
Perlo Team
Chris Gregg
Matt Brand
Alicia Jeffords
Fred Lutz
Kyncade Hardy
Kathi Gehrts

Cipole Industrial Park (#1430) | Tualatin, OR
Cipole Industrial park included three new concrete tilt-up buildings in Sherwood, Oregon. Built for Phelan Development Company, the speculative development brings 235,000 SF of industrial space to the market. The tilt panels included specially cast-in-place designs, presenting an upgraded appearance on each building.
These projects came with plenty of site specific challenges. According to senior project manager, Jordan Peterson, the work had to include coordination of road improvements with the City of Sherwood, Washington County, the City of Tualatin, Northwest Natural Gas, PGE, Century Link and Frontier. There were ‘lots of cooks in the kitchen’ in terms of involved jurisdictions and utilities.
In addition to the many utilities and jurisdictions involved, the project teams had to be very careful to work around the existing businesses adjacent to the site. This includes Hardwood Industries, Conrad Lumber and Columbia Corrugated Box. They were all impacted by our construction work and were all cooperative, understanding and as helpful as possible.
Owner
Phelan Development
Architect
Calvin Coatsworth Architects
Structural Engineer
HAS & Associates
Civil and Landscape Designers
AAI
Perlo Team
Jordan Peterson
Whitney Peterson
Ray Vigue
McKayla Marshall

Portside Logistics Park | Vancouver, WA
The Portside Logistics Park is a new, speculative warehouse in Vancouver, Washington. At 290,000 SF, the project includes 39’ of clear height, four drive-through doors and 50 dock-height door openings. The building has a 6 ½” thick slab and a plasticizer mix in the panels.
Included in this project were design-build mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection scopes, as well as a design-build sanitary lift station.
This work was completed over the winter months, with constant rain while trying to complete the roof. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic hit Washington State near completion and made closing out the work difficult. We were fortunate that Specht Development was the owner of the project, as they were fair, understanding and helpful, and also had great third party consultants on board to create a system of checks and balances for all. Transparency and communication between all parties were key to overcoming these obstacles and finishing up the building the right way.
Owner
Specht Development
Architect
Mackenzie
Perlo Team
Chris McInroe
Adam Smelley
Tylor Kofstad
McKayla Marshall
.
Despite what 2020 has thrown at us, we continue to push through for our clients. Join us next week for part two of our 2020 year in review series!

With uncertainty abounding about the economy in general, one thing is certain: the industrial real estate market is a good place to be. In fact, JLL is predicting that demand for industrial real estate in the US will grow by an additional one billion square feet by 2025. For reference, that’s an addition of more than 17,361 football fields’ worth of industrial space within the next five years.
While industrial buildings tend to shy away from flashy building materials and rarely make the cover of a magazine, they are nonetheless a critical part of our country’s infrastructure. These buildings are, among other things, where we manufacture, house and distribute both perishable commodities and consumer goods.
Here we will explore a little more about the industrial real estate market as it pertains to construction, with a particular focus on the trends we see in the Pacific Northwest.
Types of Buildings and Uses
Industrial real estate serves a variety of end-users and may include light manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, showroom space, light office, retail, movie production, or food storage and/or production, among other things. Buildings may be constructed in a variety of ways, most commonly of the following types:
In previous generations, concrete block was commonly used for exterior wall systems, but seismic concerns and inefficiencies with constructing large buildings has largely phased this method out. There is some speculation that Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) may be considered in the future for exterior building skins on industrial projects, as focus shifts towards more sustainable construction practices.

The size of industrial projects varies greatly from small footprint buildings for single businesses, to warehouse and distribution centers spanning over one million square feet. In general, these buildings include wide open floor plans, often with rows of racking, equipment and forklift operations. Interior clear heights – the height from the floor to the underside of any obstructions at the roof structure – also vary, with heights climbing in recent years to 40 feet and beyond.
Industrial developments typically need easy access to freeways or other modes of transportation, such as airports or marine ports, and in more recent years are moving closer to consumer locations with the rise of e-commerce. They also require large, preferably flat parcels of land, ranging from a few acres, to 40 acres or more for very large buildings. Area traffic, permit and development fees and access to utilities such as power, water and gas also play a role in site selection.
The Rise of Technology in Industrial Developments
One factor increasing the complexity of industrial market construction is the rise of technology use. Automation through the use of robotics has been on the rise for years. Forklift guidance technology via guide wires that are embedded in concrete slabs has been a part of warehouse construction for quite some time. Increasingly, we are seeing even more technology that must be included in our building packages to accommodate loading and unloading at dock doors or embedding technology for driverless forklifts. It’s possible that as automation increases, the need for a skilled labor force nearby will decrease. These larger industrial buildings could then be located in increasingly rural locations, where land is more readily available and is less expensive.

What Makes Developments Pencil
Development of industrial projects are all about dollars and cents, and a budget bust of even one dollar per square foot can mean a project doesn’t move forward. The material components that make up most of these types of buildings include:
- Concrete
- Rigid Insulation
- TPO Roofing
- Structural Steel
- Rebar
- Lumber
An increase in the price of these items can certainly affect whether a project moves forward or not. 2020 has seen relatively steady prices for projects. Some materials prices have decreased, and though labor prices continue to rise, many contractors are looking for innovative solutions to keep costs down, perhaps in anticipation of an economic downturn, to ensure they have a healthy backlog of work.
In addition to tracking materials and labor pricing closely, the large site sizes that accompany industrial projects require careful consideration of the excavation work needed. In fact, one of the largest risks to an owner in terms of cost and schedule delays is the site work package. Complications with building sites can arise from a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

- Soft soils
- Hazardous materials abatement
- Presence of large boulders
- Increasing erosion control requirements
- Site dewatering and discharge
- Weather delays associated with moisture sensitive native material
- Haul distances for importing or exporting material
As Perlo’s Senior VP of Operations, Chris Gregg says, “the earth work is a dance. You have to be familiar with the site, the risks, when to amend the soil, how to anticipate weather challenges and how to adjust the site strategy as the project evolves”. A strong contractor who is familiar with the site will have the best chance of managing the risks associated with it.
A Cyclical Market
The real estate cycle is cyclical, and the industrial market is no different. Depending on supply and demand, we observe locally that the industrial market shifts between speculative construction and build-to-suit. In other words, when the market is ‘hot’, developers are willing to construct speculatively, without having a tenant in place to occupy it at the time they begin construction. When the market slows, we see developers wait to build until they have a tenant pre-arranged to lease the building, and then they build it to suit that tenant’s specific needs.

At the beginning of 2020 in the Pacific Northwest, we were very near the point in the cycle where developers were slowing their interest in speculative construction and moving towards build-to-suit only. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend has accelerated. However, construction of industrial product has not stopped. As JLL reported in June, the pandemic has accelerated e-commerce demand within the US, as consumers seek to order more of their goods online. We are still seeing a need for these types of buildings across the Northwest.
Though developers have shifted to a more cautious approach for development this year, they have not stopped purchasing land for future development. Investors have continued to buy and prepare for new developments and are poised with ‘shovel ready’ land when the right deal comes along.
From the time land is purchased, an owner can expect the design and permitting process to take a minimum of six to twelve months, followed by the actual construction time. With this in mind, owners have to consider that if they endeavor to develop their own building, they will have to be prepared for an extended amount of time for the development and construction process to be complete.
The Future of Industrial Real Estate
In the past several decades, we have seen changes in both the building types and materials used for constructing them, which has increased efficiencies in construction and utilization. However, increasing regulation of building codes and a lack of available land in some locations is making development more challenging. In the Pacific Northwest, we are seeing projects extend up and down the I-5 corridor more than in years past, as the supply of large, developable parcels decreases.
At the same time, the rise in e-commerce needs across the country is inspiring some retailers to build smaller footprint distribution centers that are closer to their consumers in lieu of having only a few large distribution centers across the country. It will be interesting to see if this trend also lends itself to redevelopment of brick and mortar locations into small distribution hubs as consumers choose to buy online and demand fast delivery.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to questions about the domestic supply chain. Will we see manufacturers make efforts to move production facilities back to the US? If so, the industrial real estate market will certainly benefit.
For the immediate future, all signs point to a strong build-to-suit market in the industrial space. We anticipate that deals will become more creative in terms of redeveloping existing property and responding to the needs of the booming e-commerce market.
If you are considering an industrial development, our preconstruction teams excel at providing preliminary budgets for consideration. Reach out here to start the conversation.