Business Details
35 Years
experience
Trusted Design-Build Solutions for Food & Pharma Facilities
Since 1991, ESI Group USA has been a leader in design-build facility solutions for the food and pharmaceutical industries. Our dual teams of accredited specialists, ESI Design Services and ESI Constructors, deliver integrated expertise in automated warehouses, cold storage, and ultra-low temperature environments. With over 30 years of experience and a team of 70 professionals, we have completed 500+ projects nationwide, including LEED-certified facilities totaling over 5 million square feet. Our three-phase construction approach ensures cost efficiency, safety, and timely delivery, while our deep industry knowledge addresses complex compliance requirements. Clients consistently highlight our collaborative partnerships, technical excellence, and commitment to quality, as evidenced by long-term relationships spanning decades. We specialize in greenfield developments, expansions, and high-efficiency refrigerated distribution centers, maintaining a focus on innovation and client-specific solutions.Our nationwide presence, with offices in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, enables localized service delivery while leveraging centralized expertise. Recognized for safety and project excellence, we hold multiple industry awards and maintain strategic alliances with regional and national food industry leaders. Our LEED-certified projects demonstrate a commitment to sustainable building practices, reducing operational costs for clients while meeting rigorous environmental standards. Through consistent execution and a client-first philosophy, we aim to be the preferred partner for facility design and construction in the food and pharma sectors.
Services
Design-Build
Cold Storage
LEED Certification
Automated Warehouses
Food Processing Facilities
Pharma-Cold Environments
Construction Management
Site Planning
Facility Master Planning
Refrigeration Systems
Details
- Year established: 1991
Highlights and features
- We offer 30+ years of specialized experience in food and pharma facility construction.
- Our integrated design-build approach reduces project timelines and costs.
- We maintain a 95% client retention rate through long-term partnerships.
- Our team holds 25+ industry-specific LEED certifications for sustainable building.
- We operate under a three-phase construction methodology for predictable outcomes.
Associations and certifications
- LEED
What people say
Deep understanding
Trusted partner
Commitment and support
Highly complex projects
Long-term partnership
Services
Design-Build
Our design-build methodology combines architectural, engineering, and construction services under one contract. This approach streamlines project timelines, reduces costs, and ensures seamless coordination between design and construction teams. Clients benefit from single-point accountability and faster delivery of functional, code-compliant facilities tailored to food and pharmaceutical industry requirements.
Cold Storage
We specialize in cold storage solutions including blast freezing, ammonia refrigeration systems, and energy-efficient temperature-controlled environments. Our facilities meet USDA, FDA, and OSHA standards while optimizing energy consumption through waste-heat recovery and sustainable design elements like xeriscaping.
LEED Certification
Our LEED-certified projects incorporate energy-efficient systems, sustainable materials, and environmentally responsible construction practices. We guide clients through certification processes while delivering facilities that reduce operational costs through tax incentives, zoning allowances, and improved resource efficiency.
Automated Warehouses
We design and construct automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) for high-density storage and efficient inventory management. Our patented solutions improve throughput, reduce labor costs, and optimize warehouse operations while maintaining compliance with industry safety standards.
Construction Management
Our three-phase construction management approach includes feasibility studies, budget planning, and execution oversight. We ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget while maintaining quality standards through rigorous safety protocols and stakeholder communication.
People
Brad Barke
President / Founder
With over 40 years in project management, Brad leads ESI Group USA's operations and client relationships. He oversees technical standards and quality assurance programs, ensuring alignment with industry best practices.
Robin Wolff
Director of Engineering
Robin brings 25+ years of electrical engineering expertise in industrial and commercial markets. He specializes in power distribution, fire alarm systems, and process control for complex facility projects.
Mike Schwartz
V.P. Construction Operations
With 35 years in food facility construction, Mike oversees operations and on-site management. His civil engineering background ensures technical excellence in executing large-scale distribution and processing projects.
Timothy Gibbons
V.P. Design
Tim leads architectural design for cold storage and food processing facilities. With 25+ years of experience, he manages code compliance, master planning, and LEED certification processes for client projects.
Mark Livesay
V.P. Automated Warehousing
Mark has 30 years of AS/RS expertise, including three patented storage solutions. He focuses on low-temperature environments, optimizing material handling systems for efficiency and scalability.
Questions
What industries does ESI Group specialize in?
We focus on food distribution, processing, and pharmaceutical facilities, including cold storage, automated warehouses, and LEED-certified buildings.
Do you handle both design and construction?
Yes, our integrated design-build approach combines architectural, engineering, and construction services under one contract for streamlined project delivery.
Are your facilities energy efficient?
All projects incorporate sustainable practices, with over 5 million square feet of LEED-certified facilities featuring energy recovery systems and efficient refrigeration.
What geographic areas do you serve?
We operate nationwide with regional offices in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, supporting local and national clients.
How do you ensure project timelines?
Our three-phase construction methodology includes detailed planning, phased execution, and continuous monitoring to maintain schedules and budgets.
Can you handle complex regulatory requirements?
Our team specializes in FDA, USDA, OSHA, and AIB compliance, ensuring facilities meet all safety and operational standards for food and pharma industries.
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