MORRIS, Ill. - Kraft Foods, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, and ProLogis, a major owner, manager, and developer of distribution facilities, announced that an 800,000-square-foot distribution center near Chicago developed by ProLogis has been recognized with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The distribution center, located in Morris, Ill., was completed in the first half of 2007 and is currently leased to Kraft. Together, the companies recently completed building improvements under the USGBC’s LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) certification program. The building is now LEED-CI Gold certified and is the largest facility of its kind in the world to achieve this certification.
“We are thrilled to announce our first LEED-certified distribution facility,” said David Klavsons, vice president, logistics for Kraft. “This is a great accomplishment for our company and provides tremendous momentum for our future sustainability initiatives. We have a longstanding relationship with ProLogis and, by leveraging their expertise in green construction practices, the company has added an even higher value to our partnership.”
“The improvements made to the building in collaboration with Kraft helped it become our third distribution facility in the U.S. to receive LEED certification, and we are excited about the incitement it gives our green building efforts,” said Jack Rizzo, managing director of global construction at ProLogis. “With nine additional warehouses currently submitted for certification review and 8.3 million square feet in the U.S. under design or construction to meet LEED standards, ProLogis continues to demonstrate its commitment to becoming the global leader in sustainable warehouse construction.”
Elements employed in the Kraft building to achieve LEED certification include:
• An HVAC system that improves indoor air quality and reduces power consumption by 40 percent;
• Coatings, adhesives, and sealants with low volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels; and
• Extensive use of recycled and locally sourced materials during construction, with nearly 100 percent of construction debris diverted to recycling centers rather than landfills.
Publication date:06/02/2008
