HOUSTON Tex. -- SYSCO Corporation, North America's largest foodservice marketer and distributor, announced that its Board of Directors has approved the construction of two new office buildings and the extensive renovation of the company's existing corporate office on Enclave Parkway in west Houston between Eldridge and Briar Forest, just south of Interstate 10. The project is scheduled to break ground in the fall of 2004 with phased occupancy into the first new building expected to occur in 2006. The second new building and the renovated third building will be occupied during 2007.
"The rapid growth at SYSCO's 151 distribution locations in the U.S. and Canada has resulted in the need for our firm to consider long-term space requirements for our corporate office," said Richard J. Schnieders, SYSCO's chairman and chief executive officer. "We are committed to utilizing environmentally appropriate design principles to create a flexible, cost-effective and productive workplace for the more than 1,000 associates who assist our customers, suppliers and operating companies each day."
Houston-based real estate firm Hines will lead the development of the buildings. The architectural design team is HOK Architects, Kendall/Heaton Associates, and Kirksey. Haynes Whaley Associates, I. A. Naman + Associates and Walter P. Moore & Associates will provide consulting engineering and Clark Condon Associates will serve as the landscape architect. SYSCO has challenged the project team to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification -- a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings -- from the United States Green Building Council.
SYSCO is the largest foodservice marketing and distribution organization in North America, generating sales of $27.5 billion for calendar year 2003. The company's distribution locations in the United States and Canada provide food and related products and services to approximately 420,000 restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other foodservice customers. For more information about SYSCO visit the company's Internet home page at www.sysco.com.
