Controlled Environments Constructions

What Controlled Environments Constructions does

Controlled Environments Constructions (CEC) is a Tustin, California-based design-build general contractor founded in 1992 that delivers turn-key low-temperature and industrial facilities for enterprise clients in the cold storage, food processing, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sectors. The firm operates as a contract developer, providing end-to-end services that encompass real estate acquisition, project financing assistance, environmental remediation, AutoCAD-based planning and design, and full construction management. Its portfolio includes projects ranging from small specialized rooms (a 5,065 sq. ft. wine storage facility for Youngs Market) to multi-hundred-thousand square foot cold storage distribution centers (Port of Stockton at 130,000 sq. ft. and Port of Long Beach at 250,000 sq. ft.).

CEC's technical differentiation rests on three proprietary service lines. First, the firm pioneers industrial roof-raising techniques to increase vertical storage capacity without footprint expansion, a method first executed in 1989 and still applied to facilities in operation today. Second, CEC co-developed the NXTCOLD / CAz low-charge ammonia refrigeration platform through a joint venture with UK-based Star Refrigeration, which reduces ammonia charge by up to 80% versus traditional systems and offers an energy-efficient alternative to HFC/CFC refrigerants. Third, the firm operates a wastewater lagoon practice with GPS-based surveying, modern pond liner welding, and multi-layer leak monitoring, serving agricultural clients in California's Central Valley.

CEC's business model is project-based enterprise contracting with quote-driven pricing, awarded through direct field sales relationships rather than channel partners or digital funnels. Revenue is derived primarily from construction contracts (professional services) and hardware installations through the CAz joint venture. The customer base spans named enterprise accounts including Baker Cold Storage (a Lineage Logistics-affiliated operator with three CEC-built facilities), Food Services of America, Coastal Pacific Food Distribution, Union Ice, Amgen, Golden State Foods, Pacific Sun Industries, Menlo Logistics, and Youngs Market. Geographic reach is concentrated in California with additional projects in Nebraska and Puerto Rico. The firm is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or revenue figures.

Name

Controlled Environments Constructions

Legal name

Controlled Environments Construction, Inc.

Website

https://controlledenvironments.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Controlled Environments Construction is a Tustin, California-based design-build general contractor founded in 1992 that delivers turn-key cold storage, food processing, pharmaceutical, and industrial facilities for enterprise clients. Services include low-charge ammonia refrigeration, industrial roof-raising, environmental remediation, and wastewater lagoon construction across the western U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cold Storage and Industrial Construction Services

NAICS

Industrial Building Construction (23621), Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (23622)

SIC

Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)

akta.pro primary industry

Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Beverage Processing Plant Construction (IMAFADAH), HVAC & Refrigeration Contracting (IMAFALAB), Industrial & Cleanroom Fit-Out (Factories, Warehouses, Controlled Environments) (IMAFANAF)

Keywords

• Cold storage construction
• Industrial design build
• Ammonia refrigeration systems
• Food processing facilities
• Pharmaceutical clean rooms

Headquarters

HQ city

Tustin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Design and Build Construction Contracts: Full-service general contractor providing turn-key project development from concept to construction. Services include real estate acquisition, planning, design, construction, and project management. Revenue earned through project-based construction contracts with enterprise clients.
2. Low Charge Ammonia Refrigeration Systems: Installation and retrofit of next-generation low-charge ammonia refrigeration units. Revenue generated from equipment installation, system design, and ongoing support for the CAz joint venture partnership.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Controlled Environments Construction is a turn-key design-build general contractor specializing in cold storage warehouses, food processing facilities, pharmaceutical cold rooms and clean rooms, ice plants, industrial roof-raising, and environmental site remediation. The company manages projects end-to-end — including real estate acquisition, financing assistance, planning, design, construction, and project management — for enterprise clients such as cold storage operators, food processors, and pharmaceutical companies across the United States.

Product overview

Controlled Environments Construction (CEC) is a design-build construction company offering a unified portfolio of specialized services since 1992. The core offering centers on Turn-Key Cold Storage Design and Build Projects, complemented by Low Charge Ammonia Refrigeration (NXTCOLD) for next-generation cooling systems. Additional specialized services include Pharmaceutical Cold Storage Enclosures & Clean Rooms, Ice Plant Design and Construction, Wastewater Lagoons, Environmental Site Remediation, Industrial Roof-Raising for vertical space maximization, and Hi-Tech Warehousing for technology integration. These services are delivered as an integrated turnkey solution from concept to construction, with the company acting as a one-stop shop for projects of all sizes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Low-charge ammonia systems can reduce ammonia on site by up to 80%

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2014Government agency overseeing environmental remediation at brownfield Port of Long Beach site previously used as a wood treatment plant. CEC developed remediation plans with DTSC for the contaminated site prior to constructing the 250,000 sq. ft. cold storage facility.
• Baker Cold StoragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 December 2012Division of Baker Commodities, Inc. of Vernon, California. Owns cold storage facilities and has been a longtime customer of CEC. CEC has constructed multiple facilities for Baker Cold Storage including their first facility outside of Vernon at Port of Long Beach. Lineage Logistics operates Baker Cold Storage facilities.
• Lineage LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2012Third largest temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics company in the U.S., sponsored by Bay Grove Capital LLC. Operates Baker Cold Storage facilities including the new Port of Long Beach facility constructed by CEC. Represents key operating partner for completed projects.
• CAz Refrigeration (Controlled Azane Refrigeration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture between CEC and UK-based Star Refrigeration formed to revolutionize the North American low-charge ammonia refrigeration market. Star has been active in the low charge market for 10 years. CAz provides reliable, high-efficiency equipment that reduces ammonia on site by up to 80%, is easy to install, and reduces risk to employees, product, and operations.
• Star RefrigerationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based refrigeration manufacturer and service provider with over 10 years of experience in the low charge ammonia market. Partnered with CEC to form CAz Refrigeration joint venture for North American market.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ARCO National Construction: Design-build general contractor with deep cold storage and food distribution experience serving similar enterprise customers; broader geographic reach than CEC.
• Haskell: Large national design-build firm with a Food & Beverage / Consumer Products division that competes with CEC on cold storage and food processing projects at greater scale.

Others

• Lineage Logistics: Largest U.S. temperature-controlled warehousing operator and CEC's key customer/operating partner via Baker Cold Storage; not a direct competitor but ecosystem participant shaping CEC's project pipeline.
• Star Refrigeration: UK-based industrial refrigeration manufacturer and CEC's JV partner in CAz Refrigeration for low-charge ammonia technology — adjacent/partner rather than direct competitor, but central to CEC's differentiation.
• Americold Realty Trust: Largest publicly traded cold storage REIT and a major buyer of design-build cold storage services; a key customer-side player shaping contractor demand alongside Lineage.

Direct peers

• Fisher Construction Group: Design-build contractor focused on food processing, cold storage, and industrial facilities — directly comparable service mix to CEC's food and cold storage portfolio.
• Primus Builders: Specialty design-build contractor for cold storage warehouses, food processing, and distribution facilities; competes with CEC for similar enterprise food logistics and cold chain clients.
• The Strobel Companies: Specialty contractor focused on cold storage and food processing design-build projects, overlapping CEC's core niche and customer segments.
• Stellar: National design-build firm specializing in cold storage, food processing, and industrial refrigerated facilities — the closest large-scale competitor to CEC in the cold storage construction niche.
• Tippmann Group: Design-build contractor specializing in cold storage, food distribution, and industrial refrigerated facilities, including ammonia refrigeration systems — directly comparable offering and customer base to CEC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/controlled-environments-constructions-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Controlled Environments Constructions