RESTORING WITH PURPOSE: INDUSTRY TRENDS FROM THE SHARE FOOD PROGRAM WAREHOUSE PROJECT

Diane Goschler, EIT, SPSM, C. Erickson & Sons, Inc.

Food insecurity remains a daily reality for hundreds of thousands of people across Greater Philadelphia. Share Food Program is leading the charge against this crisis—distributing millions of pounds of nutritious food each year to schools, pantries, and community partners. So when we were selected as the general contractor to restore and upgrade their primary warehouse, we knew this wasn’t just another renovation. This was mission-critical work.

Working hand-in-hand with the owner and project architect, we’ve approached this restoration in carefully sequenced phases to ensure uninterrupted operations. Phase 1 focused on life safety: upgrading fire suppression systems, installing a new fire pump, improving lighting, replacing 70,000 square feet of roofing, and integrating new refrigeration systems. These updates not only bring the facility up to current standards— they establish the infrastructure needed for future growth. And as additional phases get underway, this project is emerging as a case study in the growing industry trend of purpose-driven construction.

The Industry Shift: Buildings as Mission Enablers

We’re seeing a clear shift across the construction industry: more nonprofit organizations are making strategic investments in their physical infrastructure. Where facilities were once seen as passive backdrops, they’re now understood as essential to an organization’s capacity, impact, and sustainability.

The Share Food Program warehouse is a perfect example. This isn’t just about making repairs—it’s about enabling Share to scale its operations and serve more people safely and efficiently. Upgrades like modern fire suppression systems, durable roofing, and enhanced lighting aren’t just “nice to have.” They protect the people, food, and mission at the heart of this operation.

For nonprofits facing rising demand and limited resources, the takeaway is clear: investing in durable, adaptable infrastructure is essential. And for construction professionals, the challenge is to help these organizations build in a way that’s safe, smart, and aligned with their mission.

Life Safety Takes Center Stage

One of the most important trends emerging in existing facility renovations is the focus on life safety—particularly for organizations that can’t afford operational disruptions. In Phase 1 of this project, we prioritized fire detection and suppression systems, upgraded the facility’s fire pump, and replaced outdated piping to ensure the entire building is equipped for emergency response.

We also tackled critical infrastructure: refrigeration systems to preserve fresh food, improved lighting for safety and productivity, and a complete 70,000-square-foot roof replacement to protect against the elements. These aren't just compliance upgrades—they're essential measures that safeguard Share’s ability to function day and night, without interruption.

This aligns with a broader industry push to bring aging facilities up to modern life safety standards. It’s not about minimum requirements—it’s about operational resilience.

Managing the Complexities of Phased Construction

Renovating an active warehouse is no small task. Add the complexity of food distribution, volunteer engagement, and constant inbound and outbound activity—and the need for precise planning becomes clear.

We developed a phased construction strategy to minimize disruptions, working closely with Share’s leadership and the project architect. Careful scheduling, safety zone management, and open communication were key. Construction was sequenced to steer clear of food storage areas, and we implemented dust, noise, and access controls to protect both product and personnel.

This level of coordination isn’t always visible on a job site, but it’s critical in occupied renovations—especially in environments with public-facing missions. More and more, we’re seeing phased project delivery become the standard in the industry for these types of high-touch, high-stakes renovations.

What’s Ahead: Strategic Upgrades Continue

With the initial life safety upgrades complete, future phases of the Share Food Program restoration will focus on the building’s interior and exterior. Inside, we’ll continue repairs that improve flow and functionality. Outside, we’ll address the building envelope—improving energy efficiency and defending against further wear and tear.

Again, these aren’t cosmetic fixes. They’re strategic decisions designed to extend the life of the facility and reduce long-term maintenance costs. When you build for mission longevity, every investment needs to be smart, sustainable, and operationally aligned.

Sustainability in Nonprofit Construction

We’ve built sustainability into every phase of this project— from selecting durable roofing materials to installing energyefficient refrigeration and lighting. These choices help lower operating costs and reduce the environmental footprint of the warehouse.

For nonprofits, this matters. Every dollar saved on energy or emergency repairs is a dollar that can be redirected to core services. That’s why forward-thinking construction strategies—those that emphasize low-maintenance, highperformance systems—are becoming essential across the industry when working with mission-based clients.

The lesson? Sustainability and service delivery aren’t competing priorities—they’re mutually reinforcing.

Key Takeaways for the Industry

Projects like this one reinforce several critical insights:

• Life safety is foundational. It can’t be delayed or downgraded. It protects people, resources, and continuity of service.

• Phased construction is powerful. With careful planning and collaboration, even the most active facilities can be renovated without halting operations.

• Partnerships matter. The success of this project rests on alignment between owner, architect, contractor, and community priorities.

• Purpose-built infrastructure is here to stay. The days of deferred maintenance and short-term fixes are over. Nonprofits are building smarter—and so should we.

Conclusion: Building with Impact

The ongoing restoration of Share Food Program’s warehouse is more than a construction project—it’s a blueprint for how the industry can support organizations working on the front lines of community care. Every upgrade strengthens the infrastructure that makes their mission possible.

This work isn’t just about systems, specs, or square footage— it’s about resilience. And as construction professionals, we have the opportunity—and responsibility—to build spaces that not only stand the test of time, but serve the greater good.