After an extensive search to find a new site for expansion, Shorr Packaging Corp finalized plans with developer Duke Realty Corp to build a new facility in Aurora. The 242,372-square-foot facility will be part of the 13-acre, multi-building, industrial campus of Butterfield Corporate Park north of Interstate-88, on Ferry Road between Route 59 and Eola Road.
The expansion is expected to support 110 jobs immediately, with another 30 jobs added by 2019.
Given Shorr’s long history as an Aurora company, we recognize the impact our business brings and jobs it will continue to bring to this community,” said Craig Funkhouser, President and COO. “We are committed to keeping our corporate headquarters, as well as other operating activities, here in Aurora”.
Founded in 1922, the employee-owned (“ESOP”) company is deeply rooted in Aurora. During the site selection process, Shorr was offered – but declined to accept – tax incentives to stay in Aurora.
“We would rather the City, School District and other taxing bodies use that money for the school children, teachers, others in education and/or for attracting new business to Aurora” explained Funkhouser.
Construction on the new facility is slated to begin this summer with delivery in spring 2016.
Duke Realty’s Senior Vice President of Chicago Operations, Ryan O’Leary, said “We are pleased to be selected by Shorr Packaging as the developer of its new corporate headquarters and warehouse. We [will] deliver a state-of-the-art building designed specifically for Shorr Packaging’s inventory and shipping operations.”
The new build-to-suit warehouse will include 32-foot clear ceiling heights, 53-foot-by-52-foot column spacing and office space on the first and second floors. Two drive-in doors and 20 9-foot-by-10-foot dock doors will be incorporated into the structural precast panel building. The site also will include 156 automobile parking spaces and a 185-foot deep truck court.
The expansion enables Shorr to consolidate operations from three Aurora buildings; a 120,000-square-foot building it owns in Meridian Business Park, a 34,000-square-foot space in Meridian Business Park it leases from Duke Realty and a 36,127 square feet it leases in another building. “Shorr Packaging’s corporate headquarters and warehouse will give them the flexibility to grow their operations in the future” added O’Leary.