Talking Rain
Talking Rain Beverage Company is a Washington State based beverage manufacturer of still water and flavored sparkling waters sold throughout the United States. In April 2021, Merit Construction and team broke ground on The Talking Rain Tenant Improvement Project at the company’s Preston, WA facility. This project was a Team-Build Project that included remodeling Talking Rain’s existing lab and office spaces into four new labs; the flavor lab, micro/analytical lab, general lab, and sensory lab designed for product research, development, and testing. The project also included turning 1,565 FT of warehouse storage space into a multi-functional laboratory space.
The remodel section of the project included demolition of two existing office spaces, and two laboratories. Installing a new ventilation system, new plumbing, new electrical and lighting packages, new case work including phenolic counter tops and both wood and metal cabinetry, concrete floor polishing and sealing, fresh paint, and new fixtures.
The new 1,565 FT multi-use laboratory included opening the slab floor and installing plumbing, pumps, and a trench drain. Wood framed walls with FRP wall panels on the interior and GWB on the Exterior. The framing also included a joist deck above for storage tanks, with an access hatch and ships latter from the main floor. Electrical, plumbing, ventilation, and fire sprinkler were installed in the new lab, as well as a suspended grid ceiling, new lighting, an overhead door, man doors with upgraded hardware, drop down power reels and water reels, and new fixtures.
Completed in early December of 2021 this project was a great example of teamwork and overcoming obstacles. Talking Rain was an amazing client to work for, with incredible character, and we hope to do many more projects with them in the future.
