The Cavendish Farms Lethbridge project involved the construction of a new frozen potato processing plant capable of producing approximately 415 million pounds of potatoes annually. The facility was built to Canadian Food Inspection Agency standards and replaced the existing, aging facility in order to triple production capacity, generate employment, and increase energy efficiency. The project represented the largest investment by a private company in Lethbridge’s history and would allow Cavendish Farms Corporation to compete globally.

The following is a list of key items EllisDon took into consideration in the planning and execution of the project.

Equipment Management
• Planning to allow for equipment placement/installation prior to the structure installation & enclosing of the building
• Coordination with factory mutual construction standards.
• The use of modular construction to expedite the schedule

High Bay Freezer Areas
• Coordination and planning with the owner-procured supplier and installer of the high bay freezers
• Coordination of architectural & structural details
• Constructability consideration for food preparation areas

Schedule Management
• Plan phasing and sequencing of equipment installation, start-up and commissioning
• Management of the delivery and installation of the process equipment
• Overall plant commissioning planning

At the height of construction, there were approximately 900 construction workers on-site and over 1,300,000 person-hours of work completed. EllisDon developed and maintained the project schedule and budget effectively to keep the project on track. Our construction management team had also developed comprehensive logistics plans to manage all project safety and construction site activity efficiently and effectively.

EllisDon’s Senior Superintendent and Construction Manager worked in collaboration with our site team, EllisDon corporate supported teams and key project stakeholders to develop a comprehensive logistics plan for the project, which included allocation of laydown space and establishing temporary perimeter access roads and fence and hoarding locations.

EllisDon also planned where and when equipment were brought into the building. This was done in a phased approach to allow for full and proper commissioning throughout the entire duration of the project.

Testimonial

“The record investment Cavendish Farms is making in Lethbridge is good for our farmers and producers, good for the entire
community, and good for our growing economy. Together with the City of Lethbridge, the federal government and the
good folks at Cavendish, we are creating more opportunities for our agricultural workers, more jobs for people in the area,
and even more reasons to be proud of an industry central to who we are as Albertans,”

- Rachel Notley, Premier of Alberta.