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Expert Cold Storage Engineering Services

Design resilient refrigerated warehouses, freezers, and cold chain facilities with Hixson’s integrated architecture and engineering team. From ammonia refrigeration and PSM compliance to AS/RS layouts, docks, utilities, and controls, Hixson helps food, beverage, pharma, and 3PL operators improve reliability, product integrity, safety, and long-term facility performance.

Engineered cold storage warehouse interior

Our Cold Storage Engineering Services

Integrated engineering for refrigerated warehouses, freezers, refrigeration systems, automation, utilities, and compliant cold chain operations.

Cold Chain Design

Plan refrigerated coolers, freezers, docks, racking, AS/RS, shuttle systems, and logistics infrastructure that protect product quality across food, beverage, pharma, and 3PL cold storage operations.

Industrial Refrigeration

Engineer ammonia, freon, and CO2-based refrigeration systems with controls integration, freezer support, cold rooms, and PSM-compliant documentation for demanding industrial environments.

Frozen Facility Design

Design frozen food facilities with cooking, chilling, blast freezing, IQF freezing, frozen storage, refrigerated warehousing, sanitary flows, and raw/RTE segregation built into the layout.

Process Engineering

Translate production, packaging, warehousing, and utility requirements into process flows, equipment layouts, P&IDs, energy balances, procurement support, FAT/SAT, and startup documentation.

Building Systems

Coordinate mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, structural, and civil engineering so refrigerated facilities support process loads, utilities, life safety, and expansion needs.

Safety Compliance

Integrate PSM, HAZOP, PHA, OSHA 1910.119, EPA RMP support, combustible dust, and hazardous materials considerations into cold storage and refrigeration design decisions.

Engineers reviewing cold storage facility plans

Our Cold Storage Engineering Process

Define Operational and Temperature Requirements

Hixson begins by understanding products, throughput, temperature zones, racking strategy, dock activity, production interfaces, and regulatory drivers. This establishes the functional requirements that guide refrigeration capacity, building systems, automation, and future expansion planning.

Develop Integrated Facility Concepts

Engineer Refrigeration and Utilities

Coordinate Compliance and Constructability

Support Startup and Commissioning

Trusted By Leaders

Project Experience

Hixson has supported major food, beverage, pharma, and workplace clients across complex facility programs.

"Great Group of people. Thank You for supporting Special Olympics!"

Rebekah Travis
Rebekah Travis
The Hixson Difference

Why Choose Hixson?

Hixson brings integrated expertise, proven leadership, and disciplined delivery to complex cold storage projects.

75+ Years

Deep facility design experience built since 1948 across demanding industrial and technical sectors.

Integrated Disciplines

Twenty in-house technical disciplines collaborate daily to reduce coordination gaps and project risk.

Specialized Expertise

Focused knowledge in Food & Beverage, Pharma & Biotech, laboratories, and regulated environments.

Client Partnership

Strategic teams serve as extensions of client organizations with disciplined project management.

Meet The Engineering Team

Experienced leaders guiding integrated cold storage facility solutions.

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John Brockmeier P.E.

Manager, Plumbing Systems & Fire Protection Engineering

John oversees the department responsible for the design and engineering of plumbing systems and fire protection engineering for a variety of project types, including new construction, building utility upgrades, utility capacity analyses, and process line additions. John and his team work with a range of systems, including domestic water, process water, hot water production, direct contact water heaters, high pressure/rinse water, compressed air, natural gas, sanitary drainage, process drainage, central sanitation systems, fire pumps, and fire sprinkler systems.

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Craig Cheevers

Manager, Controls & Automation Engineering

As the Manager of Hixson's Controls & Automation department, Craig guides the team responsible for designing, implementing, and commissioning advanced control systems and automation solutions. His responsibilities include overseeing the development of automation strategies that streamline manufacturing processes, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure seamless integration of new and existing systems.

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Warren Green, P.E.

Manager, Process Engineering

Warren leads the team providing processing design services, process optimization studies, and process commissioning and FAT, SAT, and IQ activities. He advises on waste, energy, and GHG emissions reductions, and conducts safety and dust evaluations, including PSM/HAZOP. His expertise spans all food and beverage sectors including fluid, dried and cultured dairy products, processed meat, flavors, and prepared foods. Warren is also on the IDFA Food Safety Committee and actively participates in the 3A, SSI steering committee, and work groups.

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Steve Guyer, P.E.

Manager, Civil Engineering

In his role as Manager of Civil Engineering, Steve leads the team responsible for the planning, design, and engineering of roads, stormwater hydraulics and modeling, and onsite utilities. On project work, Steve is responsible for civil site project design, specifications, technical design, and project coordination with the client, government regulatory bodies, outside consultants, and contractors. As a senior staff member with our firm, Steve also serves as a mentor to newer associates.

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Chris Jarc, P.E., PMP, LEED AP

Vice President & Director, Project Management Services

Chris, a Hixson officer and member of the Board of Directors, oversees Hixson’s Project Management, Cost Estimating, and Construction Administration departments. Chris also serves in a project management role, leading teams consisting of representatives from the client, Hixson, contractors, and vendors to effective project completion. Chris assumes overall responsibility for development of project delivery strategies, coordination of all Hixson disciplines, and facilitating effective communication and management to focus resources on delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget.

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Dave Klenk

Manager, Mechanical Engineering

Dave brings more than three decades of experience to his role as the Manager of Hixson’s Mechanical Engineering Department. His work has included the design and project management of new facilities, as well as modification of existing facilities for high technology and food processing industries. At a corporate level, Dave is a member of Hixson’s Dairy and Beverage Industry team, which works to continuously improve the value Hixson offers to the dairy industry through development of our knowledge base, services and capabilities.

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Kyle McAllister

Manager, Electrical Engineering

Kyle serves as the Manager of Hixson’s Electrical Engineering department. In this role, he oversees the team responsible for the creation and delivery of electrical designs. This includes the design of high, medium, and low voltage power distribution, lighting, telecommunications, and fire alarm systems. Kyle brings more than 15 years of experience in electrical consulting and design to his role. Areas in which Kyle specializes include electrically hazardous area classification, high- and medium-voltage power distribution, protective relaying, arc flash studies, harmonics analysis, cogeneration design, emergency systems design, and complex laboratory designs.

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Scott McGlamery, P.E.

Senior Vice President, and Director, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering

Scott, an officer of the firm, leads the teams responsible for mechanical and electrical project tasks and design, specifications, technical content, consultation during equipment selection and installation and systems start-up assistance. In addition, Scott also serves as the Quality Assurance Manager, overseeing the firm’s commitment to quality. Over Scott’s more than three decades of experience, he has worked on greenfield, brownfield, and renovation projects for food & beverage plants in all sectors, labs, pharma & biotech facilities, and workplace projects.

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Scott Wever

Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

In his role as Manager of Hixson’s Manufacturing Engineering department, Scott leads the team responsible for project consulting and coordination between client, vendor, and internal disciplines within Hixson for overall manufacturing processes, functionality, equipment, and layouts. These team members develop process flow diagrams, equipment lists, and preliminary utility requirements, as well as develop equipment layouts that range from high level master planning to detailed construction documents. In addition to this role, Scott is a member of Hixson’s Meat Industry advisory team, focusing on technologies related to the meat and plant protein industry.

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Derek Wojcikowski

Director of Architecture

Derek is the Director of Hixson’s Architecture department. In this role, Derek leads the teams who design projects for our Food & Beverage, Pharma & Biotech, Laboratory, and Workplace clients. Previously, Derek served as the Manager of Hixson’s Process Layout department, where he directed the team that plays a critical coordination role in the overall development of process models and the 3D equipment model management process. Prior to these management roles, Derek, who began his career with Hixson in 2008, served as a Project Architect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What certifications are needed for cold storage?

Cold storage certification requirements depend on the products stored, refrigeration system, and jurisdiction. Food facilities may need FDA, USDA, HACCP, or SQF-aligned design support, while pharma operations may require cGMP documentation. Ammonia refrigeration systems can trigger OSHA PSM and EPA RMP obligations. Hixson integrates these compliance needs into engineering rather than treating them as afterthoughts.

What does a storage engineer do?

What types of cold storage facilities does Hixson design?

Can Hixson design ammonia refrigeration systems?

How does Hixson reduce risk in cold storage projects?

Does Hixson help with refrigerated warehouse automation?

When should we involve Hixson in a cold storage project?

Does Hixson work on both new and existing cold storage facilities?

Have Cold Storage Questions?

Talk with Hixson’s engineering team about your facility goals.

Certified & Recognized

Awards and Recognition

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Great Place to Work

Certified culture supporting long-term engineering talent.

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Rising Giants

Ranked No. 178 by Interior Design magazine.

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Top Sector Firm

Recognized in core architecture and engineering sectors.

Start Planning Your Cold Storage Facility

Share your project goals, operational requirements, and timeline. Hixson’s team can help define next steps for engineering, compliance, and facility planning.

Contact Us Today

For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at +1 513-241-1230. You can also send us a quick email at info@hixson-inc.com.