Spartanburg, S.C.-based Smith Drug Co.’s history goes back more than 60 years
to an independent drugstore that a pharmacist developed into an area chain. The
network of stores became an ambitious enterprise that turned into the thriving
pharmaceutical distribution division within parent company JM Smith Corp.,
Spartanburg. Smith Drug is one of the state’s largest private enterprises,
serving 2,000 customers, largely independent drugstores, along with nursing
homes and hospitals in 22 states.
A larger distribution center was needed due to the company’s growth, large customer base and diverse mix of products typically required to make up a customer’s individual order. The new facility has advanced order-filling capabilities at a 160-acre (64-hectare) site close to interstate highways. A custom-engineered web of conveyor systems and multilingual, voice-controlled order picking technologies have helped the company achieve 99.9 percent accuracy in order fulfillment.
The warehouse facility utilizes the Landmark 2000 building system with a MR-24 standing-seam metal roof system by Butler Manufacturing Co., Kansas City, Mo. The building is insulated to R-19 over the warehouse and R-31 over the offi ce area. The framing was engineered to accept an additional 27 pounds per square foot
(122 kg/m2) of live load imposed by the conveyor system that weaves through the 80 40- by 52-foot (12- by 16-m) bays comprising the 166,400 square feet (15,459 m2) of base warehouse that has another 35,346 square feet (3,284 m2) of mezzanine.
The 38,224-square-foot (3,551-m2), two-story office portion consists of 16 20- by 40-foot (6- by 12-m) bays and four 20- by 34-foot (6- by 10-m) bays. Pre-insulated R-12 precast concrete panels were applied to the wall construction. The facility has 18 dock doors equipped with air curtains to control infiltration and loss of conditioned air.
The mechanical engineer designed the HVAC system for the warehouse with 350 tons
(315 metric tons) of cooling and 2,300 MBH of heating capacity, as the pharmaceuticals require an environment maintained within plus or minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Throughout the building six temperature and humidity sensors are linked to an advanced energy management system that automatically adjusts the conditioned air delivered throughout the entire volume of the building. The system keeps a running archive of the controlled environment for periodic reviews. The building also incorporates freezer space and a secured vault for controlled drugs and an Early Suppression/Fast Response fire-control system.
According to a company spokesman, the heavily insulated building is two and a half times larger than the previous warehouse and yet the energy consumption is only one and a half times that of the former building.
Butler Builder TN Construction Co., Spartanburg, led the design-build program that produced the logistics center, along with architect Hollis-Crocker Architects PC, Spartanburg, and Wade Crow Engineering, Spartanburg, who served as the mechanical engineer.
Butler Manufacturing Co.
