PORT ALLEN, LA-In its attempts to save on shipping costs by streamlining its distribution from other Louisiana manufacturing plants, Dow Chemical Co. Inc. has leased 103,900 square feet at Baton Rouge West Distribution Center. Dow will begin its occupancy of the space on March 1, with plans to use it for inventory purposes as well as distribution.

A spokesman for landlord HSA Commercial Real Estate tells GlobeSt.com that the lease effectively fills building one at the center, located at 1870 Grand Terre Blvd. The spokesman says approximately 40,000 square feet remains in the second building.

HSA Commercial developed the two-building, 495,000-square-foot Baton Rouge West Distribution Center in 2008. Located one mile from Interstate 10, near the furthest inland deep-water port on the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge West features 30-foot clear heights, 80 exterior truck docks, 16 drive-in doors, and 50' column bay spacing. In addition to Dow, other tenants are Iron Mountain, Carrier, LKQ, CTDI, Whirlpool, TD Williamson and NSORO.

“We're excited to add Dow to the outstanding roster of national tenants that we're fortunate to have in our Baton Route West development,” says Craig Phillips of HSA Commercial Real Estate in a press release. Jeff Cutler from CBRE represented Dow in the lease negotiations, and Brent Garrett from Beau Box Commercial Real Estate represented HSA Commercial.

“The Dow Chemical Company has been an asset to south Louisiana for decades, and we're excited they've chosen Baton Rouge West to further expand their Louisiana operations,” comments Garrett in the press release.  “This is also a good indicator for the future health of the Baton Rouge MSA industrial market.”