Primus Builders, Inc.
Primus Builders is a privately held U.S. design-build construction firm specializing in cold storage, food processing, and manufacturing facilities, delivering integrated design-build-automate services to enterprise clients including Americold, Kroger, Case Farms, and Lineage Logistics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersWoodstock, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Primus Builders, Inc. does
Primus Builders, Inc. is a privately held U.S. design-build construction firm specializing in temperature-controlled facilities for the cold storage, food processing, grocery, and medical device sterilization industries. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Woodstock, Georgia, with regional offices in Charlotte, North Carolina and San Antonio, Texas, the company operates a vertically integrated platform spanning front-end planning, preconstruction, architecture and engineering (via wholly owned Primus Design Services, LLC), thermal envelope self-performance, construction management, and in-house automation. The company delivers design-build-automate projects as single-source contracts and differentiates through proprietary capabilities including the Variable Retention Freezer (VRT), Automated Trailer Loading (ATL) systems, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and BIM/VDC with Point Cloud scanning, serving enterprise customers such as Americold, Kroger, Case Farms, Lineage Logistics, AGRO Merchants, U.S. Cold Storage, Cold Summit Development, and CoreX.
The company's revenue model is project-based, multi-year contract pricing determined by square footage, automation scope, thermal envelope specification, and project complexity, with no publicly disclosed standard tiers. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales supported by a VP of Sales and Director of Business Development, with repeat client relationships (e.g., a 20-year, nine-project partnership with Americold) serving as a primary new-business channel. Marketing combines industry event presence (MODEX, GCCA, IACSC), case studies, white papers, video content, and earned media in trade publications including ENR. The firm has earned DBIA Project of the Year, ENR Top 100 Design-Build and Top 400 Contractor recognition, LEED Gold certifications on delivered projects, and regional workplace awards.
Operationally, Primus is led by CEO and founding partner Richard O'Connell, President Matthew Hirsch, and EVP and founding partner Erik Gunderson, supported by dedicated heads of mechanical engineering, sustainability, BIM/VDC, business development, and a Primus Solutions Group focused on automation. Recent strategic actions — naming as official U.S. integrator for Movu Robotics' 4-Way Shuttle Technology, a joint venture with Garner Economics for Food Site Certification, expansion of the in-house design studio to include mechanical engineering, and opening of two regional offices — point to a deliberate broadening of the design-build-automate platform across geographies, automation modalities, and upstream services.
Primus Builders, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Primus Builders, Inc.
- Legal name
- Primus Builders, Inc.
- Website
- https://primusbuilders.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Primus Builders is a privately held U.S. design-build construction firm specializing in cold storage, food processing, and manufacturing facilities, delivering integrated design-build-automate services to enterprise clients including Americold, Kroger, Case Farms, and Lineage Logistics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Primus Builders, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cold Storage Construction
- NAICS
- Industrial Building Construction (23621)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)
Keywords
Where Primus Builders, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Woodstock
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Primus Builders, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Design-Build Construction Services: Full-service design-build construction for cold storage, food processing, and manufacturing facilities. Includes architecture, engineering, construction management, and project delivery from concept to completion.
- Preconstruction Services: Early-stage planning, site selection, budget analysis, and consulting services delivered a la carte or as complete program to facilitate high-quality decisions and fastest possible project delivery.
- Automation Solutions: In-house automation design, planning, and implementation services including ATL systems, AGVs, and robotic solutions that optimize throughput and reduce dependence on manpower.
- Thermal Envelope Services: Insulated metal panel installation, cold storage panel systems, and thermal envelope specialist services for temperature-controlled facilities.
- Design Services: Architecture and engineering services including in-house mechanical engineering, structural engineering, and sustainable design for cold storage and food processing plants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing for design-build-automate services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Primus Builders, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Primus Builders is a design-build construction management firm specializing in cold storage, food and beverage, distribution, and industrial manufacturing facilities. It delivers integrated design-build-automate services that span front-end planning, architecture and engineering design, preconstruction, construction management, thermal envelope installation, sustainability/LEED certification, and in-house automation (ATL, AGVs, VRT). Projects are delivered as single-source contracts for enterprise clients across the U.S.
Product overview
Primus Builders, Inc. is a design-build-automate construction firm specializing in cold storage and warehouse facilities. The company operates as a unified platform offering end-to-end services across the construction lifecycle, including Front-End Services, Design (through Primus Design Services), Preconstruction Services, Construction Management, Thermal Envelope, and Sustainability Services. The company differentiates through its in-house automation division offering Automated Trailer Loading (ATL) systems and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), plus specialized equipment like Variable Retention Freezers (VRT). Projects have earned awards from DBIA, ENR, and CEBA, with capabilities spanning LEED certification, thermal envelope installation, and comprehensive food processing facility design.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Design-Build Construction
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 50% reduction in labor expenses with ATL automation solutions
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Primus Builders, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Primus Builders, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
Primus Builders, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Movu RoboticscorePrimus named official U.S. integrator for Movu Robotics' 4-Way Shuttle Technology. Partnership advances automated facility performance for cold storage and manufacturing facilities. Primus and Movu showcased the partnership at MODEX 2026. Also includes partnership for automated facility performance optimization and Movu Atlas 4-way shuttle integration.
- Garner EconomicscoreJoint venture partnership between Primus Builders and Garner Economics to conduct Primus/Garner Food Site Certification for industrial sites. Enables shovel-ready site analysis and certification for food and beverage companies. First certified site in Pennsylvania at Clearly Ahead Development's Commerce Park.
- Clearly Ahead DevelopmentminorFormerly Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation. Engaged Primus/Garner joint venture for Food Site Certification of 162-acre Commerce Park in Pennsylvania. First certified food site in Pennsylvania.
- IA Interior ArchitectsminorAward-winning interior design firm partnered with Primus on U.S. Cold Storage project to create design environments reflecting company values, history, and culture.
- Cold Summit DevelopmentcoreLeading developer of cold storage facilities. Multiple projects including 300,000 SF Wilmington, NC multi-tenant facility and 344,000 SF Dallas, TX greenfield facility. Target both conventional and high-bay ASRS facilities.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Primus Builders, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Hansen-Rice: Design-build general contractor focused on industrial, food processing, and cold storage projects in the Western U.S. Comparable to Primus on integrated design-build for specialty industrial customers but geographically distinct.
- DCE Construction: Specialty design-build general contractor for cold storage, food processing, and warehouse facilities across the Midwest and Southeast. Direct regional competitor for Primus on refrigerated buildouts in overlapping geographies.
Direct peers
- Stellar: Jacksonville-based design-build firm serving food/beverage, distribution, and refrigerated warehouse customers. Closely matches Primus on integrated design-build delivery, automation-integration capability, and cold-storage vertical focus.
- FCL Builders: Chicago-area design-build general contractor focused on industrial, distribution, and cold storage facilities. Overlaps Primus on speculative and build-to-suit warehouse projects and is comparable on scale and project sizes.
- Gray Construction (now Gray): Lexington, KY design-build general contractor specializing in food/beverage and distribution facilities. Highly comparable to Primus across design-build-automate delivery and grocery/cold-storage customer set.
- Tippmann Group: Indiana-based developer/builder that designs, builds, and leases cold storage and food distribution facilities. Competes with Primus on turnkey refrigerated build-to-suit for food and 3PL customers.
- ARCO National Construction: St. Louis-based design-build firm with explicit focus on cold storage, food processing, and distribution. Competes head-to-head with Primus for multi-tenant and 3PL refrigerated warehouse projects.
- The Korte Company: National design-build firm serving commercial, industrial, and warehouse markets. Comparable to Primus on integrated design-build delivery and similar mid-sized enterprise project profiles.
Broad incumbents
- The Boldt Company: Larger national design-build firm with industrial, food, and manufacturing experience. A broader incumbent that overlaps with Primus on large-format industrial and food customers but with significantly greater scale and geographic reach.
- Holder Construction: National commercial/industrial design-build and construction manager with food, distribution, and manufacturing experience. Overlaps with Primus on enterprise design-build pursuits but at materially larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Primus Builders, Inc. social profiles
Digital presencePrimus Builders, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Primus Builders, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Primus Builders, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Primus Builders, Inc. subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Primus Builders, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Primus Builders, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Primus Builders, Inc.
What does Primus Builders, Inc. do?
Primus Builders is a design-build construction management firm specializing in cold storage, food and beverage, distribution, and industrial manufacturing facilities. It delivers integrated design-build-automate services that span front-end planning, architecture and engineering design, preconstruction, construction management, thermal envelope installation, sustainability/LEED certification, and in-house automation (ATL, AGVs, VRT). Projects are delivered as single-source contracts for enterprise clients across the U.S.
Is Primus Builders, Inc. a public or private company?
Primus Builders, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Primus Builders, Inc. founded?
Primus Builders, Inc. was founded in 2000. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Primus Builders, Inc. based?
Primus Builders, Inc. is headquartered in Woodstock, United States, in the North America region.
How does Primus Builders, Inc. make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Design-Build Construction Services are the primary driver. The others are preconstruction Services, automation Solutions, thermal Envelope Services and design Services.
Who are Primus Builders, Inc.'s main competitors?
Regional players on record are Hansen-Rice and DCE Construction. Direct peers are Stellar, FCL Builders, Gray Construction (now Gray), Tippmann Group, ARCO National Construction and The Korte Company. Broad incumbents are The Boldt Company and Holder Construction.
Does Primus Builders, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Primus Builders, Inc..
What industry is Primus Builders, Inc. in?
Primus Builders, Inc.'s product category is Cold Storage Construction. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAAAD, Design-Build / EPC General Contracting. Its NAICS code is 23621.