JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Stellar, a construction, engineering and mechanical firm, recently announced that it received the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Award for Excellence in Design-Build for the Bell & Evans Organic Chicken Facility in Fredericksburg, Pa.

“This award reflects Stellar’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation within the design-build realm,” said Brian Kappele, chief executive officer of Stellar. “The Bell & Evans project showcases Stellar’s proficiency in merging design and construction to yield exceptional results while reshaping industry benchmarks.”

The company said the design-build project offered the flexibility of real-time adjustments during design and construction, allowing Bell & Evans to change areas as the facility came into focus.

The Fredericksburg plant uses automation to handle higher chicken volumes and maintain employee safety with minimal staff and proper processing equipment.

“Our strategy was a prime example of expediting a project timeline using the design-build process,” said Nathan Edwards, Stellar’s senior project manager for the Bell & Evans project. “The phases were designed to provide precast vendors and joist manufacturers enough information to begin manufacturing components while our teams worked through the remaining details.”

Stellar said the plant’s design reuses energy to maximize lifecycle and cost efficiency. The company said the approach reduces operational, maintenance and disposal expenses while contributing to environmental preservation.