Blue Rock Construction delivers culinary kitchen for Whole Foods Market in Upper Marlboro, MD

Upper Marlboro, MD — Blue Rock Construction announced the completion of the Whole Foods Market KMD1 Culinary Kitchen in Upper Marlboro, MD, marking another successful delivery for a valued national partner.

The 86,400 s/f project transformed an existing warehouse into a modern, large-format culinary kitchen designed to support food preparation, packaging, and distribution.

Construction was completed within a 14-month schedule and represents Blue Rock’s second major kitchen facility for Whole Foods Market, following the successful delivery of the Long Island City, NY, location in July 2024.

Meeting the Challenge

Despite challenges that included local utility delays and late evaporator shipments, the project team remained proactive and solutions-driven, keeping the work moving forward and aligned with Whole Foods’ operational goals.

One of the project’s biggest milestones came when the team achieved a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) just 5½ weeks after power was energized, well ahead of the original eight-week target. Reaching this benchmark early allowed Whole Foods Market to occupy the facility in advance of the holiday season.

Key Features

The facility includes 10,000 s/f of office space with breakrooms, lockers, meeting rooms, a mother’s room, a reception area, and restrooms. It also features a high-tech MDF room and refrigeration and insulated metal panel (IMP) installations for more than 30 rooms supporting food preparation, packaging, and distribution.

Additional elements include a fully outfitted hot kitchen, shipping and receiving offices with a truckers’ lounge and restroom, and expanded parking. The project also required structural roof enhancements to support HVAC units and gas coolers, along with major utility upgrades, including a second main electrical service, increased gas capacity, and specialty systems for kitchen equipment.

Strengthening Partnerships

Blue Rock oversaw Amazon’s kitchen equipment installation and completed final system connections, along with modern upgrades to HVAC, lighting, power, fire alarm, plumbing, and sprinkler systems.

The successful completion of the KMD1 Culinary Kitchen strengthens Blue Rock Construction’s growing relationship with Whole Foods Market and underscores the firm’s ability to deliver complex facilities through collaboration, planning, and execution.