- Client: Whole Foods Market
- Project: KMD1 Culinary Kitchen
- Location: Upper Marlboro, MD
- Size: 86,400 SF
- Architect: RSP Architects
- Responsibility: Construction Management
- Project Timeline: 14 Months
Blue Rock Construction is proud to announce the completion of the Whole Foods Market KMD1 Culinary Kitchen in Upper Marlboro, Md., marking another successful delivery for a valued national partner.
The 86,400-square-foot project transformed an existing warehouse into a modern, large-format culinary kitchen designed to support food preparation, packaging, and distribution.
Construction was completed within a 14-month schedule and represents Blue Rock’s second major kitchen facility for Whole Foods Market, following the successful delivery of the Long Island City, N.Y., location in July 2024.
Meeting the Challenge
Despite challenges that included local utility delays and late evaporator shipments, the project team remained proactive and solutions-driven, keeping the work moving forward and aligned with Whole Foods’ operational goals.
One of the project’s biggest milestones came when the team achieved a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) just 5½ weeks after power was energized, well ahead of the original eight-week target. Reaching this benchmark early allowed Whole Foods Market to occupy the facility in advance of the holiday season.
Key Features
The facility includes 10,000 square feet of office space with breakrooms, lockers, meeting rooms, a mother’s room, a reception area, and restrooms. It also features a high-tech MDF room and refrigeration and insulated metal panel (IMP) installations for more than 30 rooms supporting food preparation, packaging, and distribution.
Additional elements include a fully outfitted hot kitchen, shipping and receiving offices with a truckers’ lounge and restroom, and expanded parking. The project also required structural roof enhancements to support HVAC units and gas coolers, along with major utility upgrades, including a second main electrical service, increased gas capacity, and specialty systems for kitchen equipment.
Strengthening Partnerships
Blue Rock oversaw Amazon’s kitchen equipment installation and completed final system connections, along with modern upgrades to HVAC, lighting, power, fire alarm, plumbing, and sprinkler systems.
The successful completion of the KMD1 Culinary Kitchen strengthens Blue Rock Construction’s growing relationship with Whole Foods Market and underscores the firm’s ability to deliver complex facilities through collaboration, planning, and execution.
At Blue Rock, we deliver the highest-quality projects with pride, passion, and teamwork. We strive to exceed our clients’ expectations through a partnership-driven approach that builds long-term relationships.
If you’re planning a project and looking for a construction partner focused on collaboration and results, Blue Rock is ready to help.
Thank You
Blue Rock enjoyed a successful project for Whole Foods Market by partnering with some of the best companies in the business. Blue Rock extends our appreciation to the following organizations for a job well done!
Advance Glass Experts ● AMC Fire Protection ● Baltimore Gas and Electric Company ● BEI Electrical ● BMS Construction ● Buckner Energy LLC ● CB Flooring ● CECA, LLC ● CMC Sheet Metal ● Consolidated Construction Resources, Inc. ● CoolSys Inc. ● Delaware Valley Paving ● Falls Stone Run & Stucco ● Forcine Concrete ● Hendersen Engineering ● J&J Mechanical ● KG Johnson ● Misko Inc. ● National Signs ● Perfect Touch Landscaping ● Premier Culinary Solutions ● Prince George’s County ● ProMax Fence ● RH Fewster Painting Co. ● Ricker Thermline ● Rosedale Roofing ● RSP Architects ● Single Point ● South Jersey Glass & Door ● Stokes Equipment ● Terra Group ● Tracorp ● Washington Gas ● Washington Suburban Sanitary District ● Webb Food Service Design ● Wireframe Solutions