IAMC is the leading association of industrial asset management and corporate real estate executives, their suppliers, service providers and economic developers.
“We’re thrilled to be able to present these new distinctive designs for state-of-the-art distribution facilities to not only the SIOR members at the conference but also the public,” said Tate Godfrey, Executive Director, IAMC.
NEW YORK (PRWEB) April 13, 2018
The Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) and the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) are set to release their fourth whitepaper in the DesignFlex2030 initiative, titled “Roadmap for Change: The Flexible Distribution Facilities of the Future,” during the upcoming 2018 SIOR Spring World Conference in Austin, happening April 11-14, 2018. Key findings of the paper will be presented during the Closing General Session on the morning of Saturday, April 14.
The paper outlines creative and practical suggestions on how to create a more connected, productive, and flexible network of distribution facilities as disruptive trends permanently alter supply chains in the future. These facilities can be repurposed quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively for rapid scale-up and scale-down, technological change, scientific breakthroughs, and process innovation.
“’Roadmap for Change’ is another great product of our ongoing partnership with IAMC,” said Jim Hirt, CEO of SIOR. “This paper digs deep into the issues currently facing distribution and manufacturing centers—a major component of the industrial real estate—as well as the trends and challenges that will impact this sector in the future. SIOR is dedicated to giving our members the resources they need to stay on the cutting edge of the industry and, as technology continues to rapidly advance and transform CRE, it has never been more important to stay informed.”
While there is no single solution to the varied and complex distribution dilemmas faced by every industry, the paper instead offers innovative ideas and concepts that can serve as a jumping off point across the range of industries. Some of the top facility recommendations include creating a hyperlocal urban resource center and mixed-use development with the warehouse component situated beneath residential and office space. This hybrid facility could accommodate a mix of uses including e-commerce distribution center, customer pick-up, and service center.
“We’re thrilled to be able to present these new distinctive designs for state-of-the-art distribution facilities to not only the SIOR members at the conference but also the public,” said Tate Godfrey, Executive Director, IAMC. “Maintaining a next-generation transportation infrastructure continues to be a top concern for companies, economic developers and real estate developers so we’re hoping this paper can shed some light on next steps in order to achieve that goal.”
Other key aspects of next-generation design and best practices for future distribution facilities include:
- Global manufacturing centers with multi-modal freight shipping and receiving options.
- Regional intermodal facilities with high-efficiency container movement, all-electric vehicles and intelligent automation.
- Multifunctional sites featuring showroom, repair center, assembly, and 3-D printing capabilities for additive manufacturing.
- New network connection to a web of multiple fixed and mobile facilities, varying in size, shape, function, and scope, strategically located at various points along the logistics journey between OEM.
- Emphasis is optimizing routes and modes to get product from manufacturer to end user quicker, faster, and cheaper than anyone else.
Acclaimed firm Heitman Architects, whose design for Trumpf Company’s smart factory graces the cover of the most recent issue of Architect magazine, is the leading architectural firms on the project. Ghafari Associates, which recently took “Design Firm of the Year” honors at ENR’s Midwest awards ceremony, is the leading engineering firm on the project.
This is the fourth DesignFlex2030 paper in the series and an outgrowth of the original white paper, “Designing Flexibility into the Industrial Workplace.” “Recipe for Change: The Flexible Food Processing Plant of the Future” offered practical and innovative design solutions that would facilitate ease of repurposing and improve the efficiency of food processing facilities, while “Rx for Change: The Flexible Biopharmaceutical Facility of the Future” focused solely on solutions for biopharmaceutical facilities.
The full study will be available at “Roadmap for Change: The Flexible Distribution Facilities of the Future”.
About DesignFlex2030:
The DesignFlex2030 initiative explores the potential of new design approaches that could lead to more flexible, adaptable, and sustainable facilities in the future. The DesignFlex2030 papers offer recommendations for economic developers and federal, state, and local policy-makers on ways to encourage the construction of more flexible industrial facilities. IAMC, managed by Conway, is the leading association of industrial asset management and corporate real estate executives, their suppliers, service providers and economic developers. SIOR is the leading professional office and industrial real estate association that promotes and funds programs that advance the real estate profession. Cresa, an international corporate real estate advisory firm, contributed a generous sponsorship for this work. For more information, visit http://www.iamc.org.
