Old Roots Grow New Leaves: Breathing Life Back Into Slack Industrial Park
Slack Industrial Park continues to appreciate as an industrial asset, not only with the obvious indicators of recent expansion and new construction, but with its strategic approach to sustainability through adaptive reuse and preservation investment practices.
Following the many improvements, Slack Industrial Park hosted an Open House Event for industry agents and business professionals this past week. Raffle drawings, charcuterie boxes, and corn hole were among the activities that guest divulged in as the new renovations and improvements of Building two were on display. Slack Industrial Park continues to advance in adaptive reuse practices.
WHEN PRESERVATION SURPASSES PROBLEMS
The greenest building does not mean the latest and greatest, highest-scoring LEED-award winner. Sometimes, being green may look nothing like that, but may have been there all along unnoticed. These buildings can be the best candidates for solid sustainability. Carl Elefante, former President of the American Institute of Architects indicates the significance of considering existing building stock. Quoting statistics regarding the fraction of new buildings compared to existing, he made the argument that no amount of new green construction can bring our supply to meet demand if we overlook existing buildings: “four out of every five existing buildings will be renovated over the next generation while two new buildings are added.”
Aside from preserving the environmental impact of producing the materials, the carbon footprint further is reduced due to far less material being transported and assembled in new construction. Trade and Industry Development Magazine indicates that selective adaptive reuse reduces construction costs by 16% and decreases overall construction time by 18%.
OLD ROOTS GROW NEW LEAVES
Slack Industrial Park originated in 1945 as a military supply depot for the U.S. Army and was later used by the Air Force. Though conventionally named “Shreveport Holding and Reconsignment Depot” in 1948, the designation changed from “Shreveport Quartermaster Depot” to “Slack Air Force Depot” on December 14, 1949 and then was transferred from SAC to Air Materiel Command on April 1, 1954. Ultimately, it was redesignated as “Slack Storage Site” and was discontinued of military use around the Spring of 1961. The three 1945 vintage properties at Slack Industrial Park continue to be functional industrial assets, not only with the obvious recent indicators of re-use and expansion, but with the developer’s strategic approach to sustainability through adaptive reuse and preservation practices.
Combining modern construction and adaptive reuse with historical preservation is what sets Slack Industrial Park from other industrial commercial real estate properties in the Ark-La-Tex. In 2019 the park, owned and operated affiliates of Sealy and Company, completely renovated Building #1 at 9401 Slack Road, a 174,484 square foot warehouse originally constructed around 1945. Currently, the building is fully occupied by Custom Retail, a local cabinet and displays manufacturer.
CONTINUED GROWTH DESPITE PANDEMIC CHALLENGES
Less than a year later in 2020, amongst the challenges of the COVID-19 epidemic, Slack re-development opportunities continued with the renovation of Building #2. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently reported on strategies that would pivot companies towards a green inclusive economic regeneration despite the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. One of these strategies was to renovate and reuse existing buildings rather than continually constructing new ones.
Building two’s re-development was motivated and anchored by United Tile who relocated from a modern building, consolidating several companies into half (87,242 SF) of Building one’s total 174,484 square feet. The architecture of the building allowed for the opportunity to construct an awe inspiring entrance, offices, and a massive showroom.
SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES
Reuse, more specifically, adaptive reuse, is now a cohesion in the urban core developments.
However, the cultural awareness of sustainability and environmental impact continues to grow throughout all facets of commercial real estate, including industrial properties. Success with adaptive reuse results from both maintaining the architectural framework of a historic structure and revitalizing the interior to suit new uses and needs. These factors are exemplified by these re-developments at Slack.
Privately owned and managed, the 200+/- acre industrial park offers a large set of amenities, industrial distribution and showroom warehouses for lease, infill land sites for sale, and build to-suit opportunities.
There are eight dock-high warehouse-distribution showroom buildings for lease totaling 847,000 square feet, with spaces, ranging from 11,800 to 87,242 SF.