FedEx Air Freight Center
The construction of the new FedEx Air Freight Center at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport represents one of the region’s most significant recent investments in logistics infrastructure. Designed to support high-speed parcel movement and evolving supply-chain demands, the facility brings together large-scale industrial construction, aviation-site coordination, and advanced operational planning. Its expansive footprint, extensive civil work, and proximity to active aircraft operations required disciplined sequencing and careful integration with airport protocols.
The approximately 300,000 SF complex includes a primary package-handling and freight operations building capable of processing 12,000 packages per hour, as well as administrative and support spaces, a ground-service-equipment maintenance and wash facility, and a dedicated aircraft de-icing structure. Extensive apron paving, upgraded taxiways, and major utility improvements formed the backbone of the air-cargo interface. With more than 100,000 cubic yards of concrete placed under tight scheduling constraints, the project demanded high-efficiency staging, continuous quality monitoring, and precise coordination among structural, mechanical, electrical, and sitework teams.
L.S. Brinker served as construction manager on the project, in joint venture partnership with The Christman Company. City Carpet + Flooring installed several thousand yards of carpet tile and LVT flooring, and Universal Glass + Metals installed curtainwall, windows and glass partitions throughout the complex.
Beyond its physical scale, the facility is engineered to support modern logistics functions—ranging from automated sortation systems to temperature-controlled handling and rapid-turn aircraft operations. Its strategic location at Detroit Metro Airport positions it as a central Midwest hub for expedited freight and high-volume parcel throughput. The resulting complex stands as a demonstration of how contemporary distribution centers must blend robust industrial design with the unique demands of aviation environments, creating infrastructure capable of supporting both immediate operations and long-term adaptability.