When Petco set out to build a new 780,000-square-foot distribution center, the vision was clear: this would not be just another warehouse—it would be the beating heart of a rapidly evolving, multi-channel retail operation.
When Petco set out to build a new 780,000-square-foot distribution center, the vision was clear: this would not be just another warehouse—it would be the beating heart of a rapidly evolving, multi-channel retail operation.
When Petco set out to build a new 780,000-square-foot distribution center, the vision was clear: this would not be just another warehouse—it would be the beating heart of a rapidly evolving, multi-channel retail operation.
Cranbury Distribution Center
Cranbury, New Jersey
Cranbury Distribution Center
Cranbury, New Jersey
Cranbury Distribution Center
Cranbury, New Jersey
With e-commerce demand forecasted to grow by more than 200 percent and plans to double the company’s retail footprint within the next decade, Petco needed a space that could perform at scale—seamlessly, intelligently, and with flexibility built into its very bones.
The design challenge was to create a future-proof facility—one that could not only meet today’s logistics needs but anticipate tomorrow’s complexity. Working in close collaboration with Petco’s operations team, SBLM translated bold business ambitions into spatial and systems logic, crafting a purpose-built environment that is equal parts industrial engine and technological showcase.
At the core of the design is an advanced, multi-level automated packaging and sorting system—engineered into the facility’s structure from the start, not retrofitted after the fact. This required tight coordination of building massing, slab capacity, clear heights, and vertical movement systems to support uninterrupted automation flow. Every square foot was optimized for throughput efficiency and flexibility, enabling the distribution center to handle a broad inventory mix and pivot between retail and e-commerce fulfillment as needed.
With e-commerce demand forecasted to grow by more than 200 percent and plans to double the company’s retail footprint within the next decade, Petco needed a space that could perform at scale—seamlessly, intelligently, and with flexibility built into its very bones.
The design challenge was to create a future-proof facility—one that could not only meet today’s logistics needs but anticipate tomorrow’s complexity. Working in close collaboration with Petco’s operations team, SBLM translated bold business ambitions into spatial and systems logic, crafting a purpose-built environment that is equal parts industrial engine and technological showcase.
At the core of the design is an advanced, multi-level automated packaging and sorting system—engineered into the facility’s structure from the start, not retrofitted after the fact. This required tight coordination of building massing, slab capacity, clear heights, and vertical movement systems to support uninterrupted automation flow. Every square foot was optimized for throughput efficiency and flexibility, enabling the distribution center to handle a broad inventory mix and pivot between retail and e-commerce fulfillment as needed.
“This is more than a logistics center; it’s a statement of readiness, resilience, and long-term vision. And at the heart of it is design: smart, responsive, and built to deliver.”
“This is more than a logistics center; it’s a statement of readiness, resilience, and long-term vision. And at the heart of it is design: smart, responsive, and built to deliver.”
But scale alone wasn’t enough. SBLM infused the project with architectural intelligence—designing clear sightlines, reducing travel distances, and embedding energy-efficient systems to keep operations lean and sustainable. From flexible dock configurations to scalable racking zones, the space adapts to growth rather than resisting it.
What Petco gained was not just a facility, but a strategic asset
—a flagship distribution hub that positions the brand for its next chapter.
But scale alone wasn’t enough. SBLM infused the project with architectural intelligence—designing clear sightlines, reducing travel distances, and embedding energy-efficient systems to keep operations lean and sustainable. From flexible dock configurations to scalable racking zones, the space adapts to growth rather than resisting it.
What Petco gained was not just a facility, but a strategic asset
—a flagship distribution hub that positions the brand for its next chapter.
