JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 28, 2022) — Stellar has completed its renovation and expansion of the Beaver Street Fisheries, Inc. (BSF) seafood packaging facility in Jacksonville. The wholesale seafood and meat supplier engaged Stellar to convert a 12,000-square-foot freezer into a seafood processing and packaging facility expansion on the BSF campus just west of downtown. Additionally, Stellar converted a portion of another freezer into cooler space for storing and tempering product to support BSF’s expanded processing capacity. Work on the $4.9 million design-build project started in Spring 2021.
Stellar crews completely gutted the existing 12,000-square-foot freezer space and installed a new sloped concrete floor slab with nearly two dozen floor drains, new insulated metal panel (IMP) walls and ceilings, new electrical wiring, switchgear and energy-efficient lighting, new plumbing and a new replacement fire sprinkler system. Stellar also designed and installed a 1,700-square-foot processing support freezer and updated multi-temperature ammonia refrigeration system.
“Since this structure was built more than half a century ago, along with converting its use, there were a number of opportunities to improve its operational and energy efficiency,” said lead project manager Thomas Ansell. “Furthermore, to support the new lighting and refrigeration system, we built a new electrical room and tied into the existing utility infrastructure.”
The conversion to cooler space in the second freezer included the design and installation of new ammonia refrigeration components, the addition of an insulated dividing wall and life safety exits, the modification of an existing fire sprinkler system and the addition of new floor drains.
“It was important for BSF to maintain unimpaired operations and high standards of food safety during construction, so Stellar strategically planned and successfully implemented construction logistics, strategic phases and debris controls to accommodate these requirements,” said Ansell.
“Given ongoing global supply chain and labor availability issues, Stellar did a great job of keeping this project on track and finishing it in accordance with our overall timetable and best practices,” said BSF owner’s representative Jeff Edwards. “The quality of the finished construction is consistent with our state-of-the-art standards for food processing and storage facilities and will enable BSF to continue supporting the growing needs of its customers worldwide.”
BSF is a long-time customer of Stellar. When Stellar was founded in 1985, the firm built a storage and processing facility for BSF, followed by a new 300,000-square-foot multipurpose facility and expansion in Nassau, Bahamas, in 2000 and 2013, respectively.
About Beaver Street Fisheries, Inc.
Beaver Street Fisheries, Inc. (BSF) is a leading importer, exporter, processor and distributor of quality frozen and fresh seafood and meat products from the U.S. and around the world. With headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, a vertically integrated supply chain, and the advantage of both on-site and off-shore processing capabilities, BSF satisfies the diverse needs of wholesale, retail, institutional and foodservice operators with a wide variety of products and competitive pricing. Learn more at beaverstreetfisheries.com.
About Stellar
Stellar is a fully integrated design, engineering, construction, refrigeration and mechanical services firm serving commercial, industrial and public sector markets across the United States and around the world. More than 800 Stellar employees worldwide create award-winning food processing plants, refrigerated warehouses, distribution centers, commercial buildings and military facilities. In addition to its Jacksonville, Florida, headquarters, Stellar operates nearly 50 support locations and offices throughout the United States, China and in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The company also serves Central and South America, Europe and India. For more information, visit www.stellar.net.
