So you want to build a new facility?
Kujawa Enterprises, Inc., in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, moved into a new facility four years ago. Our new home is located on a 6.7-acre site and has a 32,000 square-foot footprint with an additional 16,000 square-foot mezzanine. Construction took two years. The following are a few things to consider, if you’re planning to build a new home for your company. First, you have to decide if you want to invest in real estate. The investment in land and a building can be quite substantial. If suitable facilities are available for leasing or renting, that may be a better alternative. If you decide to build, consider that in real estate the three most important words continue to be, location, location, location. When we made the decision to invest in a facility, we looked for: - A community that appeared to be hospitable, one with reasonable zoning laws and fewer restrictions.
- A location that had reasonable proximity to our clientele. Too much windshield time cuts into profits.
- A location that was close to a labor source and, if possible, was served by public transportation.
- A location that was close to quick-travel routes, such as an expressway with a ramp nearby or easy access to state and county highways or a main street.
- A location with a recognizable address to make it easy for vendors and job applicants to find us.
Once you have narrowed your choice of locations, you then need to find a suitable site and determine if it is merely adequate (or appropriate for future expansion) and affordable. The next big question to answer is “Are you going to build a special use (landscaping) facility or build an ‘investment’ property?” Preconstruction phase After you have settled on a location and site, consider the following before entering the construction phase. - Energy efficiency. The cost of gas and electricity is unlikely to go down, which makes building with energy efficiency a priority. Worker comfort is another by-product of energy efficiency.
- Choice of materials. The use of durable, long-lasting materials, both inside and outside, that require little or no maintenance is a good investment. Today, there are more reasons than ever before to make your new facility “green,” as well.
- Economical construction. The most economical construction is a “big box.” Use interior walls to divide the building.
- Design. Within the parameters of local building codes and your means, try to incorporate a design that is flexible and expandable. Avoid over designing with too much special use in mind; think in terms of multiuse for today and tomorrow.
- Other considerations. Remember to consider building and yard security and aesthetics as your new facility takes shape.
We built a multiuse structure that doubles as a real estate investment. Thanks to significant pre-planning and site analysis, we are very satisfied with our facility. Looking back, with few exceptions, we wouldn’t change a thing.
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