Team to Deliver Two Million Square Feet on Fast-Tracked Schedule
July 29, 2024 (Ontario, CA) –Affinius Capital, McDonald Property Group, and PREMIER Design + Build Group have begun work on a master-planned logistics park in Ontario, California. Situated directly across from Ontario International Airport (ONT) in San Bernardino County, The HUB @ ONT project is notable for its scope, location, timeline and complexity. It will also be one of the first large-scale developments in Southern California to incorporate an innovative carbon-reduction system for the slab, tilt wall panels and paving as part of Affinius Capital’s strategic plan for achieving significant environmental sustainability goals through concrete decarbonization methods.
The project ownership is CanAm Ontario, LLC, which consists of an investment affiliate of Affinius Capital, a notable Canadian pension fund, and McDonald Property Group. CanAm Ontario has recently executed a 55-year ground lease with Ontario International Airport Authority to develop the entire 200-acre site.
PREMIER, a national design-build construction firm, recently began mass grading the entire site. Working on an aggressive timeline, PREMIER will be constructing more than two million square feet consisting of four buildings during the initial Phase I of the project.
The site’s proximity to ONT will require extremely careful coordination with airport authorities to manage temporary runway closures during construction.
“We are pleased to see this major real estate development move forward, ultimately bringing new jobs to our region while providing critical non-aeronautical revenue streams that will help Ontario International Airport fund vital safety, security and infrastructure projects while keeping down costs to our airline partners,” said Alan D. Wapner, president of the Ontario International Airport Authority board of Commissioners.
The team will also work concurrently with the City of Ontario and CanAm’s infrastructure contractor, Granite Construction, to make extensive public improvements on every major roadway surrounding the site.
“This is an extraordinarily complex project necessitating an incredible amount of precision in both planning and execution,” explained PREMIER’s Steven Gabbert, President, Western Region. “There is a heavy coordination and communication lift, so we’ve convened a team of highly experienced project managers, project superintendents and project engineers who will be on-site to lead this build.” PREMIER’s field team includes Project Executive Derrick Schuster and Project Manager Brett Teare. Adrian Lopez, Don Tourdot and Jimi Towner are Project Superintendents. The team also includes Director of Construction Nick Palmer, General Superintendent Tom Rushing, Director of Project Administration Alexandra Wellin, Assistant Project Manager Greg Lew and Project Coordinator Louvier Ko.
In addition to its complexity, The HUB @ ONT is being designed and built with sustainability high on the list of priorities. Multiple strategies for incorporating concrete decarbonization, sustainable elements and achieving LEED Silver certification for this industrial development were identified. The carbon reduction of emissions volume resulting from this project, as compared to conventional concrete design for industrial projects, will achieve approximately 44,000 Tons less embodied carbon released into the atmosphere across the entire development. According to Gabbert, “This is an exciting project for our team, especially because Affinius Capital and McDonald Property Group are so deeply committed to demonstrating the impact of building green.” Gabbert is a LEED Accredited Professional and a Certified Sustainable Building Advisor who has served as a Board Director for both the USGBC Orange County and the Sustainability Council of Orange County.
Rather than using conventional tilt-up concrete wall panels, PREMIER will construct the building walls incorporating insulated composite panels. These panels use a specialized truss system, replacing a 4” layer of concrete with EPS foam core within each panel and dramatically reducing the amount of concrete required. By substituting insulated composite panels for standard panels, the team will achieve a significant carbon footprint reduction across the site.
“This project is leading the industry by pioneering a new and exciting direction with the use of insulated composite panels in lieu of the traditional concrete tilt walls,” explained Derrick Schuster, Project Executive. “The foam core components are an innovative way to reduce the project’s carbon footprint by eliminating a substantial portion of cement. This is a transformational solution for achieving the elevated sustainability goals established for this industrial park.”
In addition to insulated composite panels, PREMIER’s team will incorporate carbon-reducing specialty Type 1L concrete, which produces nearly 50% less CO2 than traditional concrete slabs. Most CO2 emissions in concrete production occur when the limestone is burned. Since Type 1L uses less concrete in favor of additional rebar for reinforcement, CO2 emissions are significantly reduced. This innovative process creates a more sustainable slab without sacrificing performance. Other sustainable elements incorporated into the design include rooftop solar arrays, drought-tolerant landscaping and low-flow water systems.
”This project has been many years in the making. With dedication and collaboration of McDonald Development, the Ontario International Airport Authority, the City of Ontario and many consultants, we are proud to be involved in this endeavor," added Lange Allen, Senior Managing Director and Head of North American Industrial Development for Affinius Capital. “We look forward to delivering one of the premier industrial parks in North America, located in a highly desirable logistics market, with a state-of-the-art sustainability design that users will benefit from for many years to come.”
CBRE’s Darla Longo, Barbara Perrier, Walt Arrington, Joey Sugar, and Joe Werdein represented the Ontario International Airport Authority on the Ground Lease and will perform all the HUB @ ONT leasing and marketing services on behalf of CanAm Ontario.
“Throughout our 20-year history, PREMIER has partnered with commercial real estate developers across the nation to evolve the vision for these large-scale campuses,” explained PREMIER’s President Michael Pacini. “We are honored to be working with Affinius Capital and McDonald Property Group to create The HUB @ ONT and to set the new standard for industrial development in Southern California.”
The target for delivery of the four Phase I buildings is Q2 2025. During Phase II, PREMIER’s team will add another five buildings to The HUB @ ONT, bringing the total square footage to 4,263,000 over a 28-month overall schedule. The major consultants and subcontractors working on the assignment include HPA, Inc. (architectural design), RPM Engineers, Inc. (MEP design), Miyamoto International (structural engineer), Forsgren Associates (structural engineer–insulated composite panels), Emerald Design (landscape design), Southern California Geotechnical (soils engineer), Thienes Engineering (civil engineer), Shambaugh & Son, L.P. (design-build fire protection), Guy Yocom Construction, Inc. (design-build concrete), Gregg Electric (electrical), Johnson Plumbing (plumbing), Air Control Systems (HVAC), Panelized Structures (roof structure), Adams Iron (structural steel), and Saddleback Roofing (roofing and sheet metal).
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About PREMIER Design + Build Group
PREMIER Design + Build Group is a leading national design-build construction firm with regional offices strategically located in Illinois, California, and New Jersey. With a strong track record spanning 20 years, PREMIER specializes in providing comprehensive solutions for industrial, commercial, healthcare, residential, retail, and mixed-use construction projects. An employee-owned company, PREMIER has an unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service that has earned it a reputation as a trusted partner in the industry.
About Affinius Capital
Affinius Capital® (previously known as USAA Real Estate and Square Mile Capital Management) is an integrated institutional real estate investment firm focused on value-creation and income generation. With a 40-year track record and $32 billion in net assets under management, Affinius has a diversified portfolio across North America and Europe providing both equity and credit to its trusted partners and on behalf of its institutional clients globally. For more information, visit www.affiniuscapital.com.
About McDonald Property Group
McDonald Property Group is an industrial development company that develops large scale industrial projects, both in joint ventures with institutional capital partners and on behalf of REITs in a non-partnership capacity. The company was formed in 2013 by Bruce McDonald, an established Southern California industrial developer who has developed over fifteen million square feet of industrial space both as McDonald Property Group and previously as co-founder of Master Development Corporation from 1995-2010. McDonald is experienced in providing development services to many institutional capital partner relationships, having recently worked with USAA Real Estate (Affinius Capital), First Industrial Property Trust, Black Creek Group, and State Teachers System of Ohio. McDonald Property Group is a licensed general contractor and real estate broker and currently manages six million square feet of industrial property through its property management affiliate. Visit www.mcdonaldpropertygroup.com
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