Local Leaders and Organizations Celebrate Completion of Speculative Building III at Kentucky Transpark

Contact:
Jessica M.L. Thompson, Marketing & Communications Director
270-781-3200; jessica@bgchamber.com

BOWLING GREEN, KY-To celebrate the completion of Speculative Building III at the Kentucky Transpark, leaders of the City of Bowling Green, the County of Warren, the Bowling Green Area Economic Development Authority (BGAEDA), the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, the Intermodal Transportation Authority (ITA) and Scott, Murphy & Daniel, LLC participated in a ribbon cutting today.

BGAEDA Chairman Rodney Rogers spoke at the ribbon cutting, saying, "We're proud to stand in this building today, knowing that this is an outstanding representation of what can be built at the Transpark. The BGAEDA supports the continual development of the Transpark, and we look forward to more success here."

The BGAEDA began constructing Speculative Building III in the Transpark in 2011. As a private organization, this is the BGAEDA's third speculative building project in the business park. The two earlier projects were extremely successful: Before breaking ground, Speculative Building I was sold to Cannon Automotive Solutions, Inc., and Shiloh Industries, Inc. purchased Speculative Building II just six months after the building's construction was complete.

More than 70 percent of companies searching for a new location are looking for existing buildings; a speculative building increases the competitive level of a business park like the Kentucky Transpark by offering a readily available building for a prospective company. ITA Vice Chairman Brian Mefford said, "The Kentucky Transpark is an ideal location for business. Spec Building III showcases what can be built here, and its features make it extremely marketable to companies looking for a new location."

Speculative Building III is a pre-engineered steel structure with steel-insulated panels located on 16 acres of land across from the Bowling Green Technical College Transpark Center. The building will be leased or sold to prospective Transpark tenants for their own purposes. The building's features are

• Floor Area: 108,000 square feet, with a potential expansion area of 108,000 square feet and an additional 18,000 square feet of office space
• Dimensions: 300 feet by 360 feet
• Building Eaves: 38 feet
• Roof: 24-gauge steel-standing, seam insulated panels
• Walls: 24-gauge insulated sandwich panels and eight-feet block wainscot
• Floor: Four-inch dense grade aggregate; eight-inch concrete floor capable
• Foundation: Reinforced concrete
• Columns: Two rows with 40 feet by 100 feet spacing
• Docks: One drive-in door and two docks installed; expandable by tenant to specifications

The heavy-industrial-zoned building meets all standards of the American Institute of Steel Construction. Phase 1 environmental, geotechnical and geophysical reports have been completed.

Mefford continued, "We're also very excited that this building's completion comes at the same time that the Transpark has been certified a CSX Select Site by CSX and The Austin Company."

Just two weeks ago, CSX certified Lot 6 of the Kentucky Transpark as a CSX Select Site, ranking it as one of only five sites in the nation to be considered the best manufacturing properties on CSX's rail network spanning 23 states. The Transpark is the only site in Kentucky-and one of only two sites in the southeastern United States-to receive this certification. These sites are the first premium certified rail-served sites for industrial development and expansion, and are selected from CSX-served sites located in the 23 states and the District of Columbia. The designation indicates "green light" properties along the CSX network.
 

"The completion of this speculative building and the recent Select Site certification are testaments to the strength of the Kentucky Transpark," said Chamber Chairman D. Gaines Penn. "This strength would not be possible without the vision and leadership of our local officials and our economic development organizations. As a Chamber, we're grateful for their continued support, and we are aggressively marketing the Transpark and this building to recruit new business."

"It's a great day for Bowling Green, Warren County and South Central Kentucky," said City of Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson. "This building represents a partnership across many public and private organizations, and it is exciting to watch the Transpark succeed because of that partnership."'

Warren County Judge Executive Michael Buchanon said, "This speculative building will be a great asset for economic development at the Transpark. We're proud to celebrate this ribbon cutting today, and we will continue to partner with the City, EDA, ITA and Chamber to market the Transpark and the region."

Ken Lasley, AIA was the building architect, and the site engineer was Arnold Consulting Engineering & Surveying, Inc. The project contractor was Scott, Murphy & Daniel, LLC with Stewart-Richey Construction, Inc. as a sub-contractor. The City-County Planning Commission of Warren County approved the detailed development plan for the project.

The Kentucky Transpark provides a substantial economic impact for the South Central Kentucky region. Nearly 1,000 people are employed at the Transpark with direct and indirect salary totals of more than $30 million and $10 million, respectively. Retail sales increase by $15 million in the region because of the jobs filled at the Transpark.

Visit http://www.southcentralky.com/Kentucky-Transpark.aspx to learn more about Speculative Building III and the Kentucky Transpark, or contact Chamber President & CEO Ron Bunch, CEcD at 270-781-3200 or ron@bgchamber.com.