SEI Meets The Specialized Needs of The Villages
When you build a Costco warehouse in The Villages, one of America’s largest retirement communities, it requires thinking a little outside the box.
On March 17, Byron Hood and his team broke ground on the combined project of 158,553 sf warehouse and fuel facility. And while the ideal soil conditions and terrain made the project seem almost routine in one way, the warehouse’s future shoppers were another matter entirely.
“Because it was in The Villages,” Byron explained, “We needed to work with an additional governing entity along with the building department. The Villages have a design review committee to ensure we did all the work in accordance with their requirements. That means that signage needs to have a certain look. And we need to take the special needs of residents in The Villages into account.”
What were some unique twists to the project? Parking spaces, unlike almost every other Costco, have wheel stops to prevent drivers from overshooting their spaces. An extra two-foot strip of aggregate concrete to better delineate the edge of the sidewalk versus the parking lot. And bollards in front of the store to prevent drivers from accidentally making Costco aisles into a drive-through.
However, even with specialized requirements and an extra level of approach, the work has gone smoothly, with Costco in The Villages ready to greet customers at their targeted August 6th grand opening.