REI Co-op opened a 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Lebanon, TN, that employs 275 workers. The facility serves the retailer’s stores and customers’ online order fulfillment in the Midwest and Southeast.
The DC reportedly “complements REI’s three existing distribution centers in Bedford, PA; Goodyear, AZ; and Sumner, WA.”
The Lebanon DC earned Leed v4 Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the first in Tennessee, and is reportedly the ” largest LED Platinum industrial building in the Southeast.” The facility operates on “100 percent renewable electricity through an onsite solar array and energy from a recently constructed renewable energy solar array in Eastern Tennessee supported, in part, by REI.” The facility also features “site-sourced natural and recycled materials” throughout the interior. Other features include skylights, solar panels and systems to repurpose rainwater to reduce energy and water usage.
“Our Lebanon distribution center delivered on four guiding principles of people, community, sustainability, and technology,” said Ruchi Christensen, REI vice president of distribution and fulfillment operations. “While the LEED Platinum certification highlights our commitment to the co-op’s climate strategy, we are also incredibly proud of the resulting workplace that fosters a sense of belonging through features including a community gathering space, employee gym and engaging outdoor spaces.”
Image courtesy REI, Ford Photography
