St. Louis Park, Minn.-based RJM Construction recently began construction on a new building in Edina, Minn., for Whole Foods Market.
RJM is constructing a new, 33,000-square-foot facility for the grocer in Centennial Lakes Plaza, replacing a building that formerly housed Storables and Thomasville Furniture. RJM provided preconstruction services and is the general contractor. The project is expected to be complete in spring of 2012.
The new building will feature a brick façade that complements the existing Centennial Lakes complex, as well as limestone similar to that used on Edina City Hall.
In addition to RJM, the construction team for building includes architecture and design firm Architectural Consortium, LLC.
“We are delighted to be working with Whole Foods Market on this highly anticipated project,” said Bill Jundt, senior project manager with RJM Construction. “This project is a great fit for RJM: a beautiful, high-end building that will serve a sophisticated clientele.”
Working on a former sand and gravel site has facilitated the construction progress, according to Jundt. “Other construction sites have been both snowed and rained out, but we’ve been able to move ahead beautifully so far this spring, given the composition of the site, which handles groundwater with ease.”
Before RJM demolished the existing structure, the Edina Fire Department practiced rescue skills in the building, including cutting out ceilings – a necessary task in the event of a fire. The fire department then used the training to respond to a commercial building fire in St. Louis Park the next day, reporting to the training officer who had just trained them in the procedure.
