2017 Award of Merit - Merritt I-66 Business Park

In the Buildings category, Merritt Properties and Merritt Construction Services received an Award of Merit from National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) Northern Virginia Awards for Merritt’s I-66 Business Park, Building 6. This light industrial building is located 32 miles west of Washington, D.C. in Prince William County, Virginia’s second-largest and fourth-fastest growing county.

Building 6, a 137,350-square-foot light industrial building, was the first constructed due to road accessibility and the ability to deliver the quickest pad grading. Construction on this building started in December 2017 and was completed in March 2018.

The site contained a large area of dense rock, so 8-10 drills were utilized over a three-month period. In addition, 540,000 pounds of explosives were used to blast and crush the rock and three crushing machines were also mobilized to generate rock of various sizes. The crushed rock turned into 285,310 cubic yards of useable material to level and raise the site, as well as construct access roads, paving areas and a retaining wall.

The building features 32’ clear heights, which are 4-8’ higher than standard industrial buildings, filling a void in the market, providing flexibility for future customers and offering extra storage for tenants requiring a smaller footprint. The site accommodates parking for up to 30 trucks with 50’ bays, which are 10-20’ wider than usual, attracting large users who need convenient dock and drive-in capabilities.

To provide additional protection and flexibility, early suppression, fast response (ESFR) ceiling-mounted sprinklers were installed to protect high-piled storage. This solution allows for the rearrangement of storage racks without costly reconfiguration of in-rack sprinkler piping.

Semi-reflective and smooth surfaces were designed throughout to provide a state-of-the-art, clean and industrial aesthetic. Finishes include brushed aluminum/metal trim, 7’ high interior glass partitions, exposed natural polished concrete/stone flooring, and engineered wood flooring.