The foundation is down at 4650 Exploration Avenue in Lakeland. A.O. Wagner Construction is proud to be working on this full-scale project for CWI Industrial Services, which serves Central Florida and the Southeast region of Florida. They specialize in turnkey industrial solutions including equipment installation and relocation, custom fabrication, and project management for a wide range of industrial facilities. This new building will give their team a dedicated, purpose-built home base.
Since breaking ground on this project last month, the A.O. Wagner Construction team has completed one of the most critical milestones of every ground-up build: the slab.
Working with J&G Concrete and Layout LLC, the crew placed 200 yards of concrete starting at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. Here’s a look at how it came together:
Forming and Reinforcing the Slab
Before any concrete was poured, the slab area was formed out, a visqueen (heavy-duty polyethylene plastic sheeting) barrier was laid across the ground, and a full grid of rebar was installed throughout. This reinforcement is what gives the slab its structural integrity and its ability to handle the loads of a 120 x 50-foot PEMB (pre-engineered metal building).
Pouring and Finishing
With the forms and rebar in place, the boom truck arrived in the early morning hours and began pumping concrete across the slab. The overnight timing keeps the pour cooler and gives the crew more control over the finishing process.
The Finished Slab
With the concrete placed and finished, control joints were cut into the surface to manage any potential cracking and maintain structural integrity over time. Aerial shots show the completed slab in context with the site, including the CMU retention wall along the left side of the pad.
The slab is now curing, underground plumbing has been stubbed up through the surface, and anchor bolts are set and ready to receive the Whirlwind Steel PEMB. Steel erection is the next major milestone.
Your Industrial Build Specialists
This project is on track for a September 30, 2026, completion date and will include office space and a storefront at the front of the building, along with a storage warehouse in the rear. We’re excited to see the project moving forward and will continue to share progress updates, so stay tuned. If you have a ground-up commercial or industrial build on the horizon, reach out to our team today to talk through what we can build together.
A.O. Wagner Construction provides full-service general contracting, management services, and design/build construction throughout Central Florida. We love serving Winter Haven, Lakeland, Davenport, Haines City, Auburndale, Avon Park, and neighboring areas! Follow our Project Build Blog to see more of our past projects. For more information, please email us at info@aowagnerfl.com or call 863-299-4444.