A M King wins ABC National Excellence in Construction award for Mission Produce’s ripening and processing facility
March 23, 2023
Carolinas-based A M King, a leading integrated Design-Build firm with an established presence in the Upstate, was recognized nationally by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for the company’s exemplary project delivery of a new 275,000-square-foot avocado ripening and processing facility for Mission Produce, Inc. in Laredo, Texas. A M King took second place in the Industrial ($25 million-$50 million) category, winning ABC’s Pyramid Award for Excellence in Construction (EIC). A M King received its Pyramid Award at ABC’s 33rd annual EIC gala in Orlando, Florida, on March 16, 2023.
A M King qualified for ABC’s national competition by winning the “Best in Class” Eagle Award for this same project at the ABC Carolinas chapter level last November. National winners were selected from hundreds of entries submitted from across the country. They were judged on complexity, attractiveness, unique challenges overcome, completion time, innovation and safety.
ABC National’s Pyramid Award for Excellence in Construction is the fourth prestigious recognition award presented to A M King for its Design-Build delivery of what is now one of North America’s largest avocado ripening and processing facilities. Beyond the ABC national and regional awards, A M King won the 2022 Best Project in the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Southeast Region’s Awards competition and earned National Finalist status in the 2022 “Built by the Best” Awards program sponsored by the Controlled Environment Building Association (CEBA).
Mission Produce, a world leader in sourcing, ripening, processing and distributing fresh Hass avocados, selected A M King for this critical project based on A M King’s expertise, qualifications and reputation in the food industry, combined with the firm’s deep experience and specialization in Design-Build delivery.
Dan Crist, A M King Vice President, explained “Mission Produce had a clear vision for developing their North American flagship facility. Mission’s leadership wanted to build their largest and most innovative facility of its type yet – and the innovation is evident to all who visit the completed facility. They were very intentional about positioning the facility to expedite imported fruit from Mexico, serving as a major hub for avocados coming from Mexico to the U.S., as well as providing greater flexibility and expanded capabilities for their growing customer base.”
A M King provided property consulting services in addition to designing and building the mega-facility, which includes cold storage, ripening, processing, and packaging space. The property is located in Laredo’s Pinnacle Industry Center on 33 acres adjacent to the Rio Grande River and the U.S.-Mexico border. The strategically located facility allows Mission Produce to capitalize on the continued popularity of its signature product in the nation’s busiest land port.
This year’s ABC EIC judges included representatives from At Home, the Design-Build Institute of America, Engineering News-Record, Marriott, the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Building Sciences, T-Mobile, the University Research Institute and various construction-related firms nationwide.
A M King
A M King is an integrated Design-Build firm based in Charlotte, NC with offices in Greenville, SC and Chicago, IL. An employee-owned company, A M King consistently and successfully delivers quality projects throughout the United States. With an experienced team committed to protecting clients’ assets, the firm provides property consulting, design, construction, and facility services in key market sectors including food processing, food distribution, industrial manufacturing, and corporate properties.
Mission Produce Inc.
Mission Produce Inc. is a global leader in the worldwide avocado business. Since 1983, Mission Produce has been sourcing, producing and distributing fresh Hass avocados, and as of 2021, fresh mangos, to retail, wholesale and foodservice customers in over 25 countries. The vertically integrated Company owns and operates four state-of-the-art packing facilities in key growing locations globally, including California, Mexico and Peru and has additional sourcing capabilities in Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Brazil, Ecuador, South Africa and more, which allow the company to provide a year-round supply of premium fruit. Mission’s global distribution network includes 12 forward distribution centers that are strategically positioned in key markets throughout North America, China and Europe, offering value-added services such as ripening, bagging, custom packing and logistical management.
