Known for its signature Chesapeake Bay Seasoning, Chesapeake Spice Company has experienced steady growth since opening its doors in 1987. To meet rising demand while maintaining the high quality and consistency customers expect, the company continues to enhance its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. In 2022, Kinsley’s Building Division was hired to expand their footprint, creating additional space that will fuel future innovation for years to come.
A Blast from the Past
Our relationship with Chesapeake Spice began in 2004 when our Building Division constructed the company’s original 70,000-square-foot plant in Belcamp, Maryland. Over the years, we’ve returned for multiple expansion projects, earning their trust through our strong reputation, financial stability and commitment to quality.
More than two decades later, that trust led Chesapeake Spice to award us their latest project—a new production and warehouse facility. Our Building Division returned to construct a new 201,000-square-foot precast and steel structure, which houses offices, manufacturing, shipping, receiving and storage areas. We also collaborated with the client and architect to design and install infrastructure that will support future processing areas, including new mixing rooms.
A Self-Performing Team
As with previous projects for Chesapeake Spice, we self-performed more than 40% of the work including nine acres of site work, concrete, rough carpentry, drywall, flooring, FRP and miscellaneous metal work. Additionally, our Training and Development Center used this project to provide trainees with hands-on learning opportunities such as installing doors, steel door jambs, headers and sidewalks.
Precision Concrete Work
Our concrete scope included constructing foundations, foundation walls, slab-on-grade, slab-on-deck, sidewalks, dock aprons and mechanical pads. One of the most complex aspects of this work was the slab pour placement. With tighter column spacing than a typical warehouse and strict floor flatness and levelness requirements, precision was critical.
To ensure a high-quality pour, our crew carefully sectioned the floor, installed rebar mats and strategically interrupted the bars at control joints to prevent cracking and stress concentration. In total, we placed 5,637 cubic yards of concrete and 172 tons of rebar, fabricated and delivered by Kinsley Materials.
Overcoming Engineering Challenges
Another challenge was the extensive collaboration required between the project’s structural engineer and Fabcon, the precast panel manufacturer. Over the course of several months, they held numerous virtual meetings and design charrettes. Because the precast walls had to be strong enough to support the steel structure, close coordination was critical.
Delivering Ahead of Schedule
Despite the engineering and concrete challenges, the project was completed in March—one week ahead of schedule. Thanks to our team’s proactive communication and problem-solving abilities, we successfully delivered a high-quality facility that will support Chesapeake Spice’s continued growth. We’re proud of our long-standing partnership and look forward to building together for many years to come.
