On behalf of Arcadia, Wisc.-based Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., Ryan Companies US, Inc. has completed construction of a 453,500-square-foot build-to-suit at Boldt Park, an 80-acre industrial business park in Romeoville, Ill., developed by Ryan Companies US, Inc. The building, located at 1045 W. Crossroads Pkwy., is one of the largest build-to-suit projects in 2014 in the Chicago area and includes office, retail showroom and warehouse/distribution space.
The scope and magnitude of the Ashley Furniture project earned it a spot as a finalist for the 2014 Industrial Development of the Year in the 27th Annual Awards for Excellence program of the Chicago Chapter of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.
Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. is the largest manufacturer of furniture in the world. Established in 1945, Ashley offers one of the industry’s broadest product assortments to retail partners in 123 countries. The company prides itself on providing customers with the best values, selection and service in the furniture industry, from design through fulfillment.
“This new Ashley Furniture facility is a cutting-edge office, warehouse and retail showroom facility that allows the firm to meet its long-term goals and objectives in the region,” John Dunneback, Director of Development for Ryan, said.
According to Dunneback, the new building for Ashley Furniture was developed on approximately 22 acres of land. The building includes a two-story customer service office totaling approximately 13,000 square feet of space (6,500-square-foot floor plates) as well as a two-story retail furniture outlet – the first in Romeoville – featuring 60,000 square feet of space (30,000-square-foot floor plates). The balance of the space, totaling approximately 380,500 square feet, is a warehouse distribution center.
“The development and construction of Ashley Furniture’s new office, retail and distribution facility has highlighted the confidence businesses have overall and specifically in the industrial market in Chicago and the I-55 Corridor,” Dunneback said. “This shows that growth is happening again. We are pleased to be able to serve the needs of Ashley Furniture.”
In addition to being the developer of the project, Ryan has also served as the general contractor. Those efforts were led by Kyle Schott, Project Manager; Gary Dini, Senior Superintendent; and Jim Herbst, Division Manager. Other members of the project team included Harris Architects, architect, and SPACECO, civil engineer.
The design highlights of the new Ashley Furniture facility include R-25 EPDM ballasted roof system, high-efficiency Low-E punched and ribbon glass windows and storefront glass, T5 high-efficiency motion-sensored warehouse lighting, 40-foot clear ceiling height, 50-by-54-foot typical bay sizes, 7-inch thick Ductile-crete floor slab, 91 dock door positions, parking for 254 automobiles and a will-call pickup area for customers.
According to Dunneback, the new Ashley Furniture facility has been constructed to incorporate green and sustainable building materials and practices.
Traci Buckingham and David Prioletti, both from CBRE, represented Ryan Companies in the build-to-suit for sale transaction. Aaron Hodgdon of the Hodgdon Group and Chuck Johanns of JLL represented Ashley Furniture. When Boldt Park was originally launched, it represented the last large-acreage parcel available for development in the I-55 corridor outside of Chicago. The park was positioned for its flexible industrial uses, from general industrial to distribution and office space in a commerce park environment. The completion of the Ashley Furniture building closes out the park, which now comprises three buildings totaling more than 1.5 million square feet of occupied space.
Boldt Park represents one of four Chicago-area business parks developed by Ryan Companies: Boldt Park in Romeoville, Laraway Crossings Business Park in Joliet, Territorial Business Center in Bolingbrook and Randall Crossings Business Park in Elgin.
