MORRIS, IL-An 800,000-sf building constructed here by ProLogis, headquartered in Denver, has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) Gold certification. The certification by the US Green Building Council makes the facility at 100 ProLogis Parkway the largest LEED-CI Gold certified building in the country, says Dave Riefe, SVP and Chicago market officer for the company.

The distribution center was constructed in 2007 on a speculative basis, Riefe says. The building's shell was not constructed for LEED certification but ProLogis has since instituted a sustainability policy. "All of our new developments will be constructed to LEED standards in the future," he says. LEED certified buildings "are more efficient (and) they are less expensive to run," Riefe says. Kraft signed a lease for the entire building and the decision was made for the interiors to be built out to LEED certifications, he says. "When Kraft came along, they had very similar goals," Riefe says. "It was just a perfect fit." Kraft moved into the facility in May 2007.

The building has energy-efficient florescent lighting with multi-level lighting controls. The energy-efficient lighting is expected to result in a 60% reduction in lighting energy costs, Riefe tells GlobeSt.com. The facility's heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is expected to reduce energy consumption by 40%. The system is also expected to improve the air quality of the building, as is the use of interior paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants with low volatile organic compound emission levels. ProLogis also used recycled and locally-sourced materials, in addition to using wood-based materials from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Also, nearly all of the construction debris was also taken to recycling centers, Riefe says.