Cool Returns: Real estate insights from Sean Gilbert of Saxum

Cool Times Podcast

In this fun and insightful episode, Vince and Jenna sit down with Sean Gilbert of Saxum Real Estate to talk about how Saxum went from boutique developments to becoming a national leader in cold storage and food processing facilities. Sean shares how strategic focus, smart partnerships (like with Arcadia Cold), and a commitment to team culture helped Saxum scale to over $3 billion in assets. From beard-growing tactics to real estate war stories, this episode is packed with laughs, strategy, and cold hard insights.

Cool Takeaways:

❄️ Niche Expertise Pays Off – Saxum shifted its focus to cold storage, dry industrial, and housing, scaling up with specialized teams in each.

❄️ The Arcadia Partnership – Sean shares how Saxum became the exclusive developer for Arcadia Cold, enabling rapid national expansion.

❄️ Spec Builds in Cold Storage – Sean breaks down the risks, sweet spots, and evolving strategy for spec buildings in cold chain real estate.

❄️ The Power of Thoughtful Design – From port market docks to multi-use cold buildings, smart design choices are critical for longevity and flexibility.

❄️ Culture is Key – Saxum’s slow hiring, team bonding (hello Dirt Dogs!), and shared values keep their team strong and cohesive.

❄️ Tech-Savvy Approach – From AI tools to cold chain logistics systems, Sean explains how Saxum is future-proofing its operations with tech.

❄️ ICON Cold Growth – Sean discusses his role as co-chair of ICON Cold and how the capital markets-focused conference is helping evolve the industry.

Don’t miss this deep dive into the future of cold storage. Chill out with the full episode at www.cooltimespodcast.com

Sponsored by Senneca Holdings

https://www.senneca.com/

Sponsored by VersiFoam

https://www.rhhfoamsystems.com/