AIT Worldwide Logistics has opened its new office and warehouse in Palatine, Illinois, called AIT Chicago. The facility is LEED-certified and consolidates the company’s suburban Chicago operations and support staff, which were previously located in three separate locations in Itasca and Wood Dale. The unified terminal is more sustainable and marks a significant milestone for the company.

AIT’s largest station is the newly constructed 370,000-square-foot building. It offers three times the space of its previous facilities combined. The new location has modern office space on two floors, covering 30,000 square feet. Additionally, the property has a bonded warehouse that is certified by the Transportation Security Administration as a Cargo Screening Facility.

Equipped with 58 dock doors, the facility can handle a wide variety of shipping needs. It provides full-service warehousing, including pick and pack services, short- and long-term storage, and multiple temperature-controlled areas for food logistics and life sciences commodities.

Over 240 teammates representing many of AIT’s specialized logistics groups, including consumer retail, critical solutions, government and aerospace, the Life Sciences Division, food logistics, high-tech, home delivery, and the Middle Mile Network, are united under one roof in this facility.

According to AIT’s Chairman and CEO, Vaughn Moore, the new AIT-Chicago is the most recent example of the company’s infrastructure investment to support its vision to become a global logistics provider respected for delivering a world-class experience.

Read also: AIT acquires Lubbers Logistics Group

“This facility is a reflection of AIT’s commitment to innovation and excellence,” he said. “By bringing our teams closer together in this state-of-the-art space, we’re continuing to exceed customer expectations by enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability at the company’s largest terminal.”

AIT has set a goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2035. To achieve this, their newest location has been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building. During the construction of the building, AIT focused on implementing energy-saving techniques, improving water efficiency and indoor air quality. As a result, the building includes six 30-foot warehouse cooling fans, LED lighting, motion sensor lights and faucets, five 480V+ fast chargers for electric vehicles, and a charger for electric trucks.

According to AIT’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Keith Tholan, the multi-purpose facility was also designed to support the organization’s core values.

The benefits of this facility include a speedy internet connection with a backup system, electric vehicle parking spaces equipped with charging facilities, micro markets that offer meals and refreshments, a recreation area, and a range of spaces in different sizes and configurations that encourage collaboration – from private conversations to group meetings.

“This modern facility is a testament to the company’s growth and the hard work of our dedicated teammates,” Tholan said. “It will enable us to integrate operations more effectively, ultimately benefiting our clients with faster, even more reliable logistics solutions.”