Customer:
National Distributor of school supplies and fine art products.

Program Challenge:
After acquiring another company with an existing east coast distribution center, School Specialty decided to consolidate its own east coast distribution facility with the acquired company's distribution center into a new large distribution center. To do this, the company needed a single-source developer capable of designing and constructing the new facility on a fast track, build-to-suit for lease basis. The developer must also sell the building, because School Specialty was in the process of being acquired by another company whose preference was to own their facilities. The new facility design was centered on a conveyor system capable of handling 21,000 different items. The developer and builder must work closely with the materials handling supplier, be responsive to changes, and keep School Specialty's principals fully informed throughout the project, even though they were 1,200 miles apart.

Solution:
A team comprised of Butler Real Estate as developer/lessor, and Butler Manufacturing Company as building system designer and manufacturer, and The O'Leary Company, a Butler Builder®, as contractor, worked together seamlessly to meet all the needs of School Specialty. This single-source development eliminated any possibility of slowing down the process. Butler Real estate financed the project internally through its parent company, Butler Manufacturing Company. After School Specialty was acquired, Butler Real Estate evolved from developer/lessor to fee based developer.

Customer Benefits:
Tasks completed seamlessly on the fast track, from start to finish, made it possible for School Specialty to move into a new building, designed and constructed to their exact needs, in record time.

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