Flexible Design Can Future-Proof U.S. Cold Storage Real Estate

Today’s fast-evolving automation and sustainability trends require careful planning and an emphasis on adaptability, advises HFA Architecture + Engineering.

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. cold storage sector can better adapt to its present and future needs by embracing smarter, cleaner and more flexible approaches to industrial design, advised HFA Architecture + Engineering.

Most of today’s aging U.S. cold-storage infrastructure is inadequate to the need for modern industrial buildings to be more sustainable and automated, notes a 1,600-word HFA advisory column on the industrial subsector. “Developers and A+E firms must work together to create spaces that not only serve their current purpose but can also transform in years to come as technology and needs shift.”

In the piece, HFA provides tips for moving toward this more flexible approach.

‘Upcycling’ older industrial buildings
The piece cites the benefits of repurposing shallow-bay warehouses in urban areas—a form of upcycling that is well-suited to last-mile delivery. As a bonus, a well-designed retrofit can significantly reduce long-term operating expenses.

In the piece, HFA recommends using reality-capture scanning technologies to set the stage for an automation-ready retrofit. Additional advanced systems can bolster performance in other ways as well. “For example, using a centralized Building Management System (BMS) enables precise monitoring and control over HVAC, refrigeration, lighting, and humidity. These systems also provide real-time alerts for temperature deviations, equipment malfunctions, or open dock doors—allowing operators to respond quickly and protect inventory.”

Meanwhile, sensor data-driven predictive maintenance can reduce downtime, extend equipment life and optimize energy use.

Updating older systems in phases
Given the push for more sustainable cold chains, it is important for A+E firms and their clients to find the right balance between meeting consumer expectations, reducing environmental impact, and staying attractive to investors and city planners. Updating older systems in phases is one approach that has become popular among brands that are pushing to achieve net zero.

“A big step is moving away from traditional refrigerants—many of which have extremely high global warming potential (GWP)—and toward HFC-free (hydrofluorocarbon-free) alternatives,” HFA advises. “For example, propane has a GWP of just 3, compared to older refrigerants with GWPs over 1,400. These greener options are not only better for the environment but often improve energy efficiency as well.”