Leelanau Cheese Vault

Technical Description:

• MULTI-PLATE^® Single Radius Arch
• Span: 24 ft
• Rise: 12 ft
• Length: 64’4”

In the popular tourist destination of northern Michigan, famous for its wineries and artesian foods, a unique application was discovered for one of Contech’s MULTI-PLATE products. The proprietors of Leelanau Cheese Company have produced award winning cheeses after honing their craft from Switzerland and France. In 2013, the company moved its entire operation from a local winery to its own location on scenic M-22 between Traverse City and Suttons Bay.

A crucial step in the production of cheese is the aging process, which requires storage in an area where temperature and humidity can be carefully maintained at a certain level. The ideal structure for this is a below ground vault, where heat transfer is limited by reduced contact with air. Being a small business, it was incredibly important to the owners of Leelanau Cheese to find a cost effective solution for their vault. A MULTI-PLATE^® arch on cast-in-place footings was the ideal choice.

“A MULTI-PLATE arch product was the most affordable option for our cheese vault," stated John Hoyt, owner of Leelanau Cheese Company. "We are able to easily manage the moisture and temperature levels to properly age the cheese.” 

The MULTI-PLATE portion of the project took only four days to assemble, and was then attached to a custom cast-in-place end wall to accommodate an entry door. The project was an overall success and exemplifies the versatility of Contech’s product portfolio.

Technical Description:

• MULTI-PLATE^® Single Radius Arch
• Span: 24 ft
• Rise: 12 ft
• Length: 64’4”