ARCO Beverage Group recently completed a 116,860-square-foot expansion in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for Crescent Crown Distributing, a leading distributor of beer, spirits, and beverages across Arizona and Louisiana.

The expansion added 106,810 square feet of beverage warehouse space, a new 10,050-square-foot loading room, five additional dock positions, five battery charging stations, a new dock apron, 35 additional trailer parking stalls, and an expanded parking lot. The facility also meets FM Global requirements. Throughout construction, ARCO coordinated closely with Crescent Crown to ensure operations remained fully functional without disruption.

This expansion marks ARCO’s fifth successful project with Crescent Crown Distributing, including construction of the original Baton Rouge facility.

Recognizing the need for increased warehouse capacity, Crescent Crown engaged ARCO early in the design phase to maximize the potential of its Baton Rouge location. Through detailed due diligence, ARCO developed multiple design and layout options ranging from 86,000 to 142,000 square feet, significantly exceeding Crescent Crown’s original expectation of 80,000 square feet. This early collaboration allowed ARCO to tailor the expansion to optimize storage and logistics efficiency.

ARCO’s design-build approach and strategic planning enabled the team to maintain an aggressive construction schedule and deliver the project significantly ahead of schedule, even with additional scope added by the owner late in the project. The team coordinated subcontractors and trades to maximize work efficiency throughout key project phases.

To support the foundation, ARCO utilized rammed aggregate piers, which enabled simultaneous construction of the foundation, structure, and shell during the settlement period of the building pad. This technique prevented more than 120 days of potential delays.

ARCO employed a “fill-hold settlement” approach for the building pad after engaging a geotechnical engineer for a detailed analysis to avoid costly ground improvements. This method eliminated the need for lime stabilization or deep foundation ground improvements below the building pad, significantly reducing site prep costs.

To ensure seamless integration with the existing structure, ARCO focused on reducing the risk of differential settlement between the new and existing buildings. Onsite materials were utilized for fill, and lime treatment was selectively applied to areas where soils were unsuitable or impacted by weather. These measures helped meet stringent compaction requirements and prevented one to three inches of potential differential settlement.

ARCO provided holistic site development services, including managing complex site conditions and regulatory requirements. One challenge was the presence of a 30-foot by 8-foot drainage swale directly beneath the proposed building footprint. ARCO addressed this early in the process by coordinating with the local site planning department to relocate the swale using 72-inch underground storm piping and constructing a new channel to a nearby creek.

Additionally, ARCO oversaw a comprehensive wetland mitigation strategy in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to meet evolving environmental compliance requirements shaped by shifting legislation.

ARCO Beverage Group is a premier, full-service design-build general contractor with more than 30 years of experience providing beverage industry clientele with complete construction services throughout the United States. As the nation’s largest builder of beverage distributorships, ARCO has constructed or made modifications to over 210 beverage facilities nationwide. From new distributorships to expansions and renovations, our team is expertly knowledgeable in the specifications and requirements for beverage facilities to run efficiently and successfully.