Colex Finishing
Design-Build Warehouse Renovation
Location
Oakland, NJ
ROLE
Design-Build Warehouse Renovation
TIME
4 months
$0.00
Change Orders
Zero Surprises
Colex Finishing in Oakland, NJ didn’t need a generic industrial space.
They needed a headquarters that could support the way their business already operated, with the right mix of office space, production space, warehouse space, and loading access.
Instead of building for a landlord trying to attract any tenant, this project was built for a specific user with a specific purpose.
Colex had identified an existing warehouse they wanted to move into. Deugen’s job was to turn that building into a facility that could support their next stage.
Through a design-build approach, Deugen handled the planning, approvals, and construction under one coordinated process. That gave Colex one team to work with throughout the entire process.
By the end, the 25,000 SF warehouse had been transformed into a practical, purpose-built home for the company’s next phase of growth.
The Challenges
The challenge was making an existing warehouse building fit a business it wasn’t originally built for.
Colex needed administrative space, production areas, storage, and loading access to function together inside one footprint. Each area had a different job, but none could be planned in isolation.
The office space needed to support the team without interfering with production.
The production areas needed to fit the company’s workflow.
The storage space had to make inventory easier to manage.
The loading docks had to support how materials came in and finished products moved out.
On top of all that, the project had to move through design, permitting, municipal approvals, and construction without forcing Colex to manage every step themselves.
The Process
Starting with the Operations
Deugen’s planning began with how Colex would actually use the building.
Instead of forcing the business into a generic warehouse layout, the team looked at how the company needed to work day to day. That shaped how the office, production, storage, and leading areas were organized.
The goal was to make the facility easier for Colex to operate once they moved in.
Keeping Design and Construction Aligned
Because Deugen managed the project through a NJ design-build process, the renovation didn’t move through disconnected phases.
The same team responsible for the design path was also responsible for approvals, budgeting, construction decisions, and final delivery.
That helped reduce the usual gaps between what gets drawn, what gets approved, and what can actually be built inside an existing structure.
Moving the Project Through Approvals
Deugen also handled the approval process with the municipality before construction moved forward.
For Colex, this removed a major burden.
They didn’t have to coordinate separately with designers, contractors, and approval agencies while trying to run the business. Deugen managed the documentation, follow-up, and construction path needed to keep the project on track.
Building Out the Facility
Once approvals were in place, Deugen renovated the warehouse to support Colex’s full operation.
The buildout included office space for administrative functions, production space for the company’s work, warehouse storage for inventory and materials, and new loading docks to improve logistics.
Each part of the facility served a clear purpose. Together, it gave Colex a headquarters that was more useful than the building they started with.
The Results
Timeline:
- Delivered: Fall 2024
Colex Finishing’s 25,000 SF facility was no longer an industrial warehouse.
It became a headquarters built around how the company works.
The renovated building gave Colex the space to manage administrative needs, support production, store materials, and move goods more efficiently through new loading access.
For Deugen, the result was a design-build renovation that turned an existing NJ industrial property into a better operational asset for the business using it.
Existing warehouse renovated into custom headquarters in Oakland, NJ
What Design-Build Meant for Colex Finishing
Not every industrial project we take on is about building something new from the ground up.
Sometimes, the smarter move is taking the right existing building and making it fit the user better.
That was the case for Colex.
They didn’t need a generic tenant improvement. They needed a facility that could support their business and allow them to grow without asking them to become project managers in the process.
Deugen’s design-build approach makes build-to-suit projects easier by keeping planning, approvals, and construction under one coordinated team.
Project Gallery
Colex Finishing
Complete
Conclusion
Colex Finishing needed an existing warehouse transformed into a functional headquarters.
Deugen delivered a 25,000 SF renovation that gave the company room to grow and thrive.
This project truly highlights the value of design-build for business owners who need a facility shaped around how they work, not a standard industrial layout they have to work around.
Looking to renovate or build out a facility for your business? Work with a NJ design-build contractor who can manage the process from planning through construction.
Ready to Build With a Partner You Can Trust?
Tell us about your project. Whether you are in early planning or have site plan approval in hand, Deugen provides a free initial consultation to help you understand your options, budget, and timeline — with zero obligation.