Kroger Corporate Headquarters Chilled Water Plant

Kroger’s corporate headquarters in Cincinnati relies on dependable building infrastructure to support daily operations for one of the nation’s largest retailers. When the existing chilled water plant serving the general office tower reached the end of its service life, Kroger partnered with Motz Engineering to develop a replacement strategy that maintained uninterrupted building operations while modernizing a critical mechanical system. 
 
Motz Engineering provided mechanical and electrical engineering services for the chilled water plant replacement, working directly with Kroger and its preferred contractors to deliver a procurement-focused engineering solution that emphasized speed, coordination, and constructability. The project combined elements of design-build and integrated project delivery, allowing the team to respond quickly while maintaining alignment with the owner’s schedule and operational priorities. 
 
To simplify installation and accelerate construction, the new chilled water plant was designed as a skid-mounted system for efficient assembly and delivery. Because the existing penthouse plant needed to remain operational throughout construction, the replacement plant was relocated to the building’s basement. Therefore, as part of the Review & Ensure phase of our IMPRESS Process, Motz assembled 3D BIM Model of the Chilled Water Plant to verify Construction Phasing & Logistics Planning – months ahead of field operations. Motz incorporated animation to review construction phases, step-by-step. Motz Engineering worked closely with the construction team to develop a detailed logistics and phasing plan that addressed equipment dimensions, weights, loading dock access, and installation sequencing while keeping the existing facility fully operational.  
 
As part of our Strengthen Phase of our IMPRESS Process, Motz Engineering also partnered with an equipment procurement specialist, SQL, LLC, to support equipment selection and purchasing, helping the project meet aggressive schedule milestones. Throughout construction, the engineering team remained actively engaged through weekly site observations, construction phasing reviews, pre-functional testing, equipment coordination, and ongoing support for both Kroger and its preferred contractors. 
 
The success of the project reflects Motz Engineering’s dedication to being a customer-focused company. Motz was able to conform to complex delivery models while serving as a trusted partner throughout design and construction by utilizing cutting-edge 3D BIM modeling to validate construction logistics and incorporating streamlined equipment procurement. Most importantly, the chilled water plant replacement was completed with minimal disruption to building occupants, allowing daily business operations to continue uninterrupted while critical infrastructure was modernized behind the scenes.