The 150,000-sq-ft headquarters for logistics company Vanderlande took some creative problem-solving from the team at HITT Contracting, which delivered the three-story building connecting two office towers on time and on budget in May 2022 after less than 12 months of construction.

The first challenge was working inside the newly constructed building with no freight elevator, an obstacle crews overcame by designating specific bays of windows on each floor to move large materials into the building, including construction materials, equipment and furniture. At least one team member for each subcontractor was certified to operate the onsite boom lift used for deliveries, a solution highlighted by judges in evaluating the project.

Vanderlande tasked HITT with creating a modern and collaborative space that would highlight the company’s European roots and appeal to today’s workforce, says Michael Beadling, Vanderlande’s manager of facilities and layout in a letter about the “huge success” of the firm’s partnership with HITT on the project.

Photo courtesy Chris Carella

Calling the building, which is nestled on 25 acres in Kennesaw, Ga., “magnificent,” Beadling says the construction team also delivered on sustainability goals like a rooftop solar panel array, “just one of the environmentally friendly options we chose to help us achieve a LEED Gold building certification.”

One challenge was finding a dumpster company that could comply with documentation requirements for that LEED certification.

HITT’s Atlanta team was able to work collaboratively with its in-house sustainability team, ultimately finding a solution to have two dumpsters on site: one with metals to be weighed for LEED requirements and another for construction debris that couldn’t be recycled.

The open-concept design features curved walls on every floor with hanging and integrated light fixtures. Workspaces are equipped with a glass front system with sliding and swing doors to maintain an unobstructed feeling, while new connecting stairs and collaboration areas are enhanced with high-end millwork.

Photo courtesy Chris Carella

A standout feature is the trellis in the cafe, which despite its weight and size, has a free-standing appearance and the illusion of minimal support from above. In that minimal support from above is the necessary power infrastructure for lighting and booth areas, a strategic decision made to avoid trenching and pouring—and resulting in unsightly patching—in the cafe’s concrete slab-on-grade flooring.

The adaptation of one of the existing buildings, the Edison building, was a play off the concept and design of a conveyor belt and carousel system in which products are distributed along a continuous and unbroken path. That playful idea of continuity is reflected in ceiling and light elements with radial design that mimic the apparent endlessness and perpetual motion of a carousel.

The space consists of a connecting North and South Tower, each with three floors, with patios on the top floors overlooking Chastain Meadows. One of the two connecting stairs leads to amenities such as a primary break room, patio, gymnasium, workout studios, locker rooms, game room, cafe, coffee bar and innovation center.