3778 Square Meters L-Shaped Warehouse in Sofia, Bulgaria
Project Information: 21.32*76.1*8.265m + 22.8*78.624*8.155m L-shaped warehouse, total 3,778 m²
Project Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Application: Warehousing (shoe wholesale business expansion)
Background
In July 2025, a referral from an existing Bulgarian client brought Dorian into contact with a shoe wholesale distributor based in Sofia. The client had been operating out of an L-shaped warehouse that had become insufficient for their growing inventory. Their plan was to build a second L-shaped warehouse directly behind the existing one — effectively doubling their storage capacity while maintaining architectural consistency with the original factory.
The new warehouse would be divided into four sections. Three of these zones would serve as dedicated storage areas, while the fourth section would be a two-story structure housing a showroom and office space. This combination of storage and display functionality reflected the client's need to run both logistics and sales operations from a single location.
Given that the project involved an expansion of an existing factory, structural compatibility between the old and new buildings was a critical concern from the very beginning.
Designing & Client Communication
The project officially progressed when Dorian's engineering team and leadership traveled to Bulgaria in October 2025 to meet the client on-site. This visit proved to be the most pivotal step in the entire project, as it allowed our engineers to work directly with the client's architect to finalize critical design decisions.
Site coordination. The foremost topic was the spatial relationship between the new and existing warehouses. Dorian's engineers and the client's architect carefully reviewed the site layout to ensure that the foundations of the new structure would not conflict with the existing building's foundation system. This required precise positioning and load analysis to avoid any structural interference.
Dimension confirmation. The team discussed and agreed on the building's cross-section, with an eave height of 8.125m and a total building height of 8.45m. The main structure utilizes a portal steel frame system in Q355B steel grade, providing the necessary strength for the 3,778 m² footprint.
Engineering documentation. Dorian's engineers prepared and submitted complete structural calculation reports for the steel frames and purlins. The client's architect reviewed and approved these calculations, confirming that the design met all local requirements. This approval was a key milestone — it gave the client confidence that the project could proceed without regulatory or structural obstacles.
Panel selection strategy. One notable decision involved the wall and roof panels. After evaluating shipping costs, the client opted to procure all sandwich panels locally in Bulgaria rather than importing them from China. The specification was set at 60mm PUR (polyurethane) panels in grey — chosen for their excellent thermal insulation performance and cost-effectiveness. The grey color was specifically selected to match the existing warehouse, ensuring visual consistency across the entire facility.
Trade terms. The project was finalized under EXW (Ex Works) terms with a contract value of USD 280,000 and a production deadline of 35 days.
In November 2025, the client visited Dorian's manufacturing factory in Luoyang, China. They inspected the production equipment and reviewed the quality of finished components firsthand. Satisfied with what they saw, the client signed the contract and paid the deposit.
Production & Shipping
·April 5, 2026 — The first batch of steel structural components was shipped.
·April 25, 2026 — As the client prepared to begin foundation work, Dorian's team traveled to Bulgaria to provide on-site supervision. Based on actual site conditions, the construction plan was adjusted in real time. Our engineers oversaw foundation excavation and guided the installation of anchor bolts to ensure precise alignment with the steel structure.
·May 29, 2026 — All remaining steel structure components were shipped. The final balance payment was settled prior to this shipment, completing the commercial transaction.
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