JohnsonDiversey Inc., a producer of cleaning and hygiene products, has announced it will build a 550,000 square foot, $22 million distribution center on a 38 acres of land in Renaissance Business Park. The distribution center is slated to open in September 2007.
“I’m delighted we’re able to make this major investment in the community,” said JohnsonDiversey Chairman S. Curtis Johnson. “The distribution center is further evidence of our long-term commitment to the Sturtevant and Racine communities, the environment, and the employees who will be working there.”
The distribution center will be a high performance building. JohnsonDiversey, in partnership with developer Liberty Property Trust, intends to earn LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the US Green Building Council, a nonprofit independent organization based in Washington, DC, that promotes the construction and operation of environmentally sound buildings. It could become the largest warehouse to be certified by the USGBC. Also, the State of Wisconsin Focus on Energy program and WE Energies are providing incentives for an energy efficient design.
JohnsonDiversey’s global headquarters was one of the first of four buildings certified by the USGBC. Built to rigorous environmental standards in 1997, the headquarters building earned LEED certification for existing buildings in 2004.
To earn LEED status, a facility must be environmentally responsible in its use of site location, choice of materials, and efficient use of resources such as water and energy. It must also promote worker productivity through good indoor environmental and air quality.
Once the building is operational, the aim is to reduce water use by 30% and energy use by more than 40% beyond State of Wisconsin building code requirements. Building materials used in construction will have more than 20% recycled content.
In addition to the positive community and environmental impacts, the new facility will also help the company better serve its customers, said company President and CEO Ed Lonergan.
“We are constantly focused on finding ways to better serve our customers,” Mr. Lonergan said. “Building this state-of-the-art distribution center close to Waxdale, our flagship manufacturing site, ensures that products will be delivered to customers with greater speed and efficiency.”
Construction of the distribution center will create significant efficiencies by consolidating four other warehouse locations in Racine and reducing transportation time and costs. It will have 55 loading docks and 118 staging areas for loading tractor trailers.
The company signed a 10-year lease agreement with Liberty Property Trust, the owners and developers of the property and new building, which will activate once it is built. Riley Construction, the local contractor of the project, will begin construction immediately. The construction project will employ about 70 workers.
Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LRY) develops high performance buildings in the U.S., with more than 5 million square feet of sustainable development completed, under construction or in the design process. Certified projects include 245 Executive Park in Milwaukee (LEED Silver), the Plaza at PPL in Allentown, Pa. (LEED Gold) and One Crescent Drive at the Navy Yard Corporate Center in Philadelphia (LEED Platinum).
