The opening is part of a 2.5 million sf of new distribution space unfolding at Hillwood's AllianceTexas from September through year's end. VoA's state-of-the-art facility will service 51 VW and 23 Audi dealerships in Texas, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma. It houses more than 75,000 part numbers and employs up to 100. The parts depot boasts 44 shipping and receiving docks. It is designed with a machine-picking process, which utilizes a high-bay storage concept and network of automated horizontal carousels.

"This facility will not only feature a large service staff and the latest technology, but it is also strategically located in a development that offers an industrial airport and intermodal rail hub center as well as convenient highway access," Eric Johnston, VoA's vice president of parts and service. The Auburn Hills, MI-based VoA has been rolling out distribution centers this year and will continue to do in 2002. Other centers will open in Los Angeles, New Jersey and Vancouver.

AllianceTexas is marking one of its strongest years in new construction. SC Johnson & Sons, a household products distributor, is in the process of moving into a 408,000-sf facility situated right across the street from its existing building. Before the year's out, General Motors will occupy 394,450 sf; WW Grainger, 350,000 sf; Daimler Chrysler, 130,000 sf; and UPS Logistics, 400,000 sf. Hillwood also is nearing a construction close on a 400,000-sf spec building for the premier Ft. Worth development.