Portal frames at Project Orange

Atlas Ward Structures has completed the steelwork for two large warehouses, as well as an adjacent ancillary structure, known as the Iced Water Building, for the Gerber Juice Company.

Known as ‘Project Orange’, the developments are situated on the Express Park in Bridgewater, Somerset and the contracts were awarded by main contractor Pearce Group.

Gerber has been manufacturing soft drinks and food at various facilities in the Bridgewater area since 1896, and is planning to unite all distribution and production at this new site.

In total Atlas Ward has designed, fabricated and erected more than 2,500t of hot and cold rolled steelwork and decking.

Phase One of the project was erected last year and consisted of a manufacturing and distribution warehouse with a footprint of 25,000m². Phase Two was built earlier this year and is a 15,500m² extension to the initial structure.

Bill Armstrong, Atlas Ward’s Project Manager, said both buildings are portal frame structures consisting of three 30m spans, one 15m span and a 7.5m wide service corridor.

Gerber said it needs a new and larger facility to meet anticipated growth in the UK soft drinks market.