Introducing 201 Commerce Center: A premier, 'Class A' light industrial business park

(Utah Pulse) Demand for industrial space has tapered off over the past six months, but when the market heats up again, 201 Commerce Center, a premier Class A light industrial business park in West Valley City, will be ready to show off its charm.

201 Commerce Center is being developed by the Argent Group-the same organization that developed the 1.7 million square-foot, 120-acre master planned RiverPark Corporate Center in South Jordan. As such, 201 Commerce Center is a fully landscaped, master planned, light industrial business park encompassing 1.8 million square feet of space on 86 acres, with expansion options to 135 acres, says Vice President Terrell Sparks. At full build-out the park will include approximately 29 buildings with spaces divisible down to 4,800 square feet in customizable designs that will accommodate showroom, office, warehouse and distribution businesses. The park is ideally located next to Bangerter Highway and SR 201 at 4300 West and 2100 South. The location provides easy access to the I-15 and I-80 transportation corridors and the Salt Lake International Airport.

Tom Dischmann, senior vice president at real estate broker CB Richard Ellis, says there isn't a light industrial park in the state that will have as many quality buildings with the flexibility and sustainable design offered by 201 Commerce Center. "This will be the premier light industrial park in the state," he adds.

Among 201 Commerce Center's unique points is the environmental sustainability that has gone into its design-from the landscape to core and shell construction. "We're doing everything to LEED standards," says Sparks. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. 201 Commerce Center's first building, constructed for Quartzdyne, Inc., is expected to receive LEED Silver certification, due in part to efficiencies in the building's construction and landscape design, efficient use of supplies and materials, and handling of construction waste. The building features parabolic GPS-guided skylights that rotate with the sun to fill the building with natural light throughout the day, while bioswales were designed into the landscape to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff before the water reaches storm drains.

Sparks hopes Quartzdyne, Inc.'s commitment to sustainable green building will be adopted by future tenants as well. "The core and shell of every building in the park will be LEED certified, so that we are prepared for any tenant with a commitment to environmental sustainability," he says.

Sparks expects it may be a 10 years before 201 Commerce Center is fully built out, depending on the economy and the absorption of existing industrial space. The Quartzdyne building completed phase one and it is 100 percent occupied, he says. Construction on phase two is expected to begin some time in 2010 and will feature three buildings comprising nearly 190,000 square feet of space. Additional buildings will be constructed based upon demand and absorption.

Dischmann says the park will cater to industrial tenants requiring from 5,000 to 25,000 square feet of space. "That's the range of space required by the greatest number of light industrial tenants, so the park was designed with those kinds of tenants in mind," he adds. Each building will feature a minimum clearance of 24 feet, with a minimum of two dock-high doors and one drive-in door per 4,800 square feet of space. Each building will also include generous glass for storefronts, adequate parking and access to dedicated ground for overflow trailer storage.

Business leaders and economic developers that have visited 201 Commerce Center say it is "just what Utah needs," according to Sparks. "Everyone thinks it's a great project in the perfect location."

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