chi-Stegerheadshot (4) Rick Steger of JLL

CHICAGO—The pace of new industrial construction has continued to quicken throughout the nation, much of it driven by demand from retailers and e-commerce companies trying to handle the growing volume of online sales. Construction deliveries in the sector grew 12.9% year-over-year, from 157.7 million square feet in the first quarter of 2015 to 178 million square feet in the first three months of this year, according to JLL’s latest report on non-residential construction activity.

“Spec construction over the past two years has just exploded,” Rick Steger, senior vice president and industrial project management lead of Chicago-based JLL, tells Globe St.com. Still, “it really cannot keep up with demand.” Users these days frequently need features such as increased parking, dock space for trucks, and the higher ceilings that make facilities suitable for e-commerce. He estimates that more than 50% of the recent new construction are such modern facilities, and this is helping fuel the construction boom. “In the past, many people just moved from one existing to another.”

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.

Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Unlimited access to GlobeSt and other free ALM publications
  • Access to 15 years of GlobeSt archives
  • Your choice of GlobeSt digital newsletters and over 70 others from popular sister publications
  • 1 free article* every 30 days across the ALM subscription network
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications

*May exclude premium content
Already have an account?


NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Brian J. Rogal

Brian J. Rogal is a Chicago-based freelance writer with years of experience as an investigative reporter and editor, most notably at The Chicago Reporter, where he concentrated on housing issues. He also has written extensively on alternative energy and the payments card industry for national trade publications.

More from this author

GlobeSt

Join GlobeSt

Don't miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed commercial real estate decisions. Join GlobeSt.com now!

  • Free unlimited access to GlobeSt.com's trusted and independent team of experts who provide commercial real estate owners, investors, developers, brokers and finance professionals with comprehensive coverage, analysis and best practices necessary to innovate and build business.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and GlobeSt events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join GlobeSt

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.