JohnsonDiversey, Inc. Begins Construction of New $22 Million Distribution Center
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STURTEVANT, Wis.--Wednesday, August 30, 2006--JohnsonDiversey Inc., a global leader in cleaning and hygiene products, announced it will build a 550,000-square-foot, $22 million distribution center on a 38-acre parcel of land in Renaissance Business Park here. The distribution center is slated to open in September 2007.
"I'm delighted we're able to make this major investment in this 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 on earning LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S.
Green Building Council, a nonprofit independent organization based in Washington, D.C., 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 here 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 the site, 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 percent and energy use by more than 40 percent beyond State of Wisconsin building code requirements. Building materials used in construction will have more than 20 percent 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, once 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) is a leader in the development of 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).
JohnsonDiversey Inc. is a leading global provider of commercial cleaning and hygiene solutions, serving customers in the lodging, food service, retail, health-care and food and beverage sectors as well as building service contractors.
JohnsonDiversey is a one of four separate companies controlled by the Johnson Family of Racine, Wisconsin, USA. With sales into more than 140 countries, JohnsonDiversey provides customers worldwide with the products, solutions and expertise to make their facilities the safe and clean. To learn more, visit us at www.johnsondiversey.com.
Liberty Property Trust (NYSE:LRY), headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, is a leader in commercial real estate, serving customers in the United States and United Kingdom, through the development, acquisition, ownership and management of superior office and industrial properties. Liberty's 64 million square foot portfolio includes more than 700 properties which provide office, distribution and light manufacturing facilities to 2,100 tenants.
Contact: Greg Bell
Director, Global Communication
(262) 631-4127
greg.bell@johnsondiversey.com
