Northwest Harvest Distribution Center

Northwest Harvest Distribution Center

A system built to move food forward

Food distribution at scale is not just about storage. It’s about timing, coordination and the ability to respond when supply and demand rarely align.

In Yakima, WA, Northwest Harvest needed a facility that could keep pace with that reality. Serving all 39 counties across the state, the organization operates a network that depends on speed, reliability and the ability to handle a wide range of food types under different conditions.

Its existing setup was no longer enough. Volume was increasing. Cold storage was limited. And opportunities to recover and redistribute fresh food were being lost simply because there wasn’t space or infrastructure to support it.

The new facility was designed to change that.

Aligning space with the way food moves

At 200,000 square feet, the distribution center is built around flow rather than footprint. Every part of the building supports how product enters, moves through and exits the system.

Instead of separating functions across multiple locations, the design consolidates operations into a single coordinated environment. A 40,000-square-foot freezer, 100,000 square feet of chilled storage maintained at 40 degrees and 60,000 square feet of ambient space work together as one system. This reduces handling time between temperature zones and limits unnecessary movement across the facility.

Height plays a critical role in that efficiency. With a 55-foot ridge, the building supports 17,000 pallet positions, allowing Northwest Harvest to scale vertically while maintaining clear access and organization across inventory.

The loading strategy reinforces that same logic. Twelve dock doors on both the north and south sides separate inbound and outbound traffic, minimizing congestion and allowing intake and distribution to happen simultaneously. Trucks move in, product moves through and shipments move out—without interruption.

This is where structural clarity matters. Primary framing provides the open spans needed for flexibility, while integrated wall and roof systems support thermal performance across each storage zone. Standing seam roof assemblies and insulated wall panels help maintain consistent interior conditions, reducing energy demand while protecting product quality.

Each system contributes to the same outcome: a building that works in rhythm with the operation inside it.

Speed without compromise

Scale often brings complexity. In this case, it also required speed.

From the first steel erected on site to completion, the project was delivered in just 11 months. That timeline was not the result of a single decision—it was the outcome of alignment across teams and disciplines.

The builder, engineers and owner worked in parallel, not in sequence. Structural decisions, storage requirements and construction planning were developed together, allowing the team to move forward without waiting for each phase to finish before the next began.

Pre-engineered systems supported that approach. By connecting engineering, detailing and fabrication into a coordinated process, the project reduced uncertainty and kept progress visible at every stage.

This is where Varco Pruden’s Precision-Engineered for Possibility™ approach becomes tangible. The value is not just in the building itself, but in how the process enables faster decisions, clearer coordination and fewer disruptions along the way.

Designed to extend the mission

The impact of the facility is measured in more than square footage or pallet count. It is measured in reach.

From this location, Northwest Harvest distributes food to more than 400 partner organizations across Washington, including food banks and schools. The expanded cold storage capacity allows the organization to accept more perishable goods, increasing access to fresh, nutritious food while reducing waste.

“Our Yakima Distribution Center serves around 65 hunger relief programs and up to 17 schools in nine central Washington counties,” the organization states. “By providing transportation to move bulk shipments; recruiting volunteers for repacking efforts; and responding quickly to farmers, growers and processors, Northwest Harvest can reduce waste, save money for our agricultural partners and distribute nutritious produce that might otherwise end up in a landfill.”

For CEO Thomas Reynolds, the long-term impact is straightforward: “Eventually this facility will be full and that means so many more people are going to be eating nutritious foods and that's really powerful.”

Built for what comes next

Facilities like this are not static. Demand will continue to shift. Supply will fluctuate. Programs will grow.

The building is designed to adapt with it.

Its open layout, clear-span structure and integrated systems allow Northwest Harvest to adjust operations as needs evolve—whether that means reconfiguring storage, increasing throughput or responding to new sources of supply.

Recognized as a 2023 Hall of Fame “best of category” winner in the Distribution category, the project reflects a broader truth: when design aligns with purpose and execution stays connected to outcomes, the result is more than a completed structure.

It is a system that supports people, strengthens communities and keeps essential work moving forward.

That’s the role this building plays and why it was built the way it was.