ELKHART, IN — Graycor Construction Company has completed a 171,000-square-foot distribution center in Elkhart, Indiana, for Amazon. The facility, DII5, will be Amazon’s first owner-occupied mass timber delivery station, with the project seeking Zero Carbon Certification from the Living Future. The project extends a two-decade relationship between Graycor and Amazon, which has included over 30 projects in 15 states.
The 39-acre DII5 site features mass timber construction as opposed to the traditional concrete and structural steel. Other more sustainable features include a high-performance envelope with lower-carbon insulation and cladding, a rainwater collection system that will be used for toilets, high-efficiency HVAC and plumbing fixtures, energy-efficient lighting and systems controls, lower-carbon concrete, and a biodiverse and drought-tolerant landscape. Because timber construction can be more susceptible to the elements, Graycor developed a moisture mitigation plan including a weatherproofing system to protect the timber as well as other weather-sensitive products during construction.
“We’re thrilled to have collaborated with Amazon to bring this impactful project to fruition. It will be an important and enduring economic driver for the Elkhart community,” said Timothy Hanifin, President of Graycor. “This project aims to not only help support Amazon’s sustainability goals but also set a benchmark for innovative warehouse designs with sustainability features. We’re proud to have woven sustainability features into the construction, demonstrating what’s possible when environmental responsibility and innovative construction come together.”
During construction, Graycor also tracked water and power usage, managed an onsite waste separation program to identify recyclable materials and work to limit landfill waste, utilized hybrid-powered equipment, and was conscience in reducing the use of generator power to reinforce their lower carbon footprint goal during construction.
ZGF was responsible for the building design, and the architect of record throughout the construction was Atlantic AE. Providing oversight, the Project Executive for Graycor was John Denbo, and the General Superintendent on site was Joe Ryder.
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Located near the Elkhart Municipal Airport, the location will employ more than 200 Amazon and contract employees, handling local fulfillment, according to an Amazon spokesperson. The building also features employee-centered wellness designs such as day- and night-shift-optimized lighting and low-emitting, bio-based interiors.
Photos courtesy of Kendall McCaugherty
