Wide view of an industrial warehouse interior with stacked aluminum cans, forklifts, and a group of workers.

Exterior view of two industrial warehouse buildings with loading docks and a clear driveway.

Interior of a warehouse with tall stacks of empty aluminum cans and bright yellow safety posts.

Seneca Foods Warehouse-to-Production Conversion

Located in Baraboo, WI

Seneca Foods needed to expand their metal can production capacity. They decided to convert an existing warehouse, turning it into additional production space instead.

Although the project moved quickly, this was not a hasty re-juggling of space. Shive-Hattery worked with the client and contractor for a thoughtful, people-first conversion.

The project began with a study of how people and materials moved on-site. We’d need this data to plan for safe and efficient building access in the converted space.
An addition, designed by Shive-Hattery, now connects the existing and converted buildings. This facilitates easy movement of materials and products across the entire production space.
Working with Seneca Foods’ own engineering staff, we devised a new layout for the converted facility. The layout accommodates both the new production equipment and additional employees.

What’s a project without some site challenges?

In designing the addition, we worked around limited drainage options due to the close proximity of the buildings. Site limitations required us to closely study code and local jurisdiction requirements and secure reviews by city and fire authorities.

Seneca Foods’ thoughtful approach made for an easy move-in and quick adjustment for workers. The converted space quickly proved its value as production ramped up.