TESTA PRODUCE BREAKS GROUND ON 91,000-SQUARE-FOOT DISTRIBUTION FACILITY

CHICAGO — Chicago-based Testa Produce has broken ground for the development of a state-of-the-art, 91,000-square-foot distribution facility at Stockyards Industrial Park in Chicago. Located at 4555 S. Racine Ave. on a 13-acre site, the property will offer 18,000 square feet of office space and 73,000 square feet of freezer/cooler distribution space. Designed by A. Epstein & Sons, the facility is striving for LEED Platinum certification. Green elements include a wind turbine to co-generate electricity, hot water solar panels, PV solar panels, an extensive green roof, rainwater harvesting and daylight harvesting. Summit Design + Build is managing the project, which is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2011. Wendy Berger Shapiro of WBS Equities represented Testa Produce in the transaction with Back of the Yards Council, the property manager for the business park.