A US $25bn project to build a net zero World Logistics Centre in Moreno Valley, California, is to be overseen by Stantec acting as prime consultant for the project.

The development, from private real estate developer Highland Fairview, is expected to take more than seven years to build and will be the largest planned logistics and business park in North America.

Much more than a freight hub, it will serve as a distribution centre for destinations across North America and will contain 40-plus million square feet of facilities over 2,600 acres.

These will include walkable streets, cafés, restaurants, spaces for arts and culture, breweries, and public space.

Iddo Benzeevi, president and CEO of Highland Fairview, said the centre represented a major commitment in the next generation of sustainability and logistics operations.

“Our engineering partnership with Stantec will be important in our success, bringing all our combined engineering and design pieces together in a fully integrated operation to execute our vision and bring it to reality,” he added.

Stantec’s work will focus on future-ready and highly sustainable infrastructure.

It will include civil engineering, industrial buildings architecture, geomatics, water and wastewater design, landscape architecture, urban planning, smart mobility and AV consulting, funding consulting, as well as energy and innovation design.

Brianna Daniels, principal-in-charge for Stantec, said: “Highland Fairview’s vision for a net zero and sustainable economic centre has not yet been tackled on this scale in the US.

“We are proud to be a part of this inspirational project that will have such positive community outcomes in Moreno Valley and around North America.”

Stantec’s project team will include 300 professionals in civil and electrical engineering, urban planning, and other disciplines dedicated to meeting the aggressive project schedule.

A core team will be co-located with Highland Fairview on the project site, with additional resources supporting from across North America. 

Michael Baker International will design the needed interchange for access to the site, ENGEO Engineering will provide geotechnical engineering, and Dudek will provide environmental permitting.

The World Logistics Centre is in the centre of Southern California’s Golden Triangle, a region that encompasses Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties and the Inland Empire—the nation’s largest manufacturing and logistics hub with a direct connection to the busiest seaport and three of the busiest airports in the US.

More than 40% of goods coming to the US pass through the Golden Triangle.

Housing multiple national brands and logistics providers, the centre will be capable of overnight delivery to the 11 western states and within-three-day goods delivery from port to facility to any destination in the continental United States. 

The World Logistics Centre is committed to providing a carbon neutral facility, making it the largest sustainable logistics cluster in the US.

With 40-plus million square feet of rooftops, the centre will have a vast capacity for solar power integration.

Stantec will examine the use of battery storage and microgrids on site to increase energy resilience, with the expectation that the facility will not have to rely on the external power grid.

The centre will also prioritize water conservation, a critical issue in California.

Facility design is expected to result in a 70% reduction in water usage compared to the current general plan for the City of Moreno Valley.

This will lead to a savings of 653 million gallons of water every year—enough water for 27,000 households.

Drainage through the site will be treated before it is discharged, while paying careful attention to maintaining historic drainage patterns and protecting the downstream environment.

Dave Calder, global industrial sector leader for Stantec, said: “The scale of this iconic project and its focus on sustainability creates a unique opportunity to advance the development of sustainable construction and operational practices in industrial buildings.”

Project design is currently underway, with construction planned to start later this year.

The project will add six million square feet per year until projected completion in 2030.