Airborne Freight expands within Runnemede Corporate Center

Real Estate Weekly, Sept 20, 2000

When shipping giant Airborne Freight outgrew their 40,000 SF facility at The Runnemede Corporate Center in Runnemede, N.J., they conducted an exhaustive search of the entire N.J. Turnpike Exit 3, Exit 4, and 1-295 corridors. They concluded that there actually was a great choice for class "A" quality space, offering a convenient location and responsive management in the area -- The Runnemede Corporate Center.

As they had done a decade earlier, Airborne approached David Richards, a partner at Richards & Robbins, the owners of Runnemede Corporate Center, with their requirements, which would not only accommodate their current needs, but also provide for anticipated future expansion.

Richards & Robbins responded by building a new 58,000 SF, state-of-the-art facility with specialized tailboards designed to meet Airborne's unique requirements of having to move delivery vehicles in and out quickly. To further meet the tenant's needs, Ninth Ave., the main thoroughfare of The Corporate Center, was extended to intersect with Clements Bridge Road, thus opening up a second entrance / exit to The Corporate Center. More importantly, this new entrance/exit, which is serviced by a new traffic signal, provides faster and direct access to Routes 41, 168 (Black Horse Pike), 42 (The Atlantic City Expressway), 30 (The White Horse Pike) 55 and 1-295. This new entrance complements the original entrance to The Corporate Center, which has direct access to Exit 3 of the N.J. Turnpike.

The new building is also designed to allow for future expansion by this valued tenant.

"After their exhaustive search of Southern New Jersey markets, Airborne determined that Runnemede Corporate Center once again offered the prestigious address, direct access to Philadelphia International Airport, and technological sophistication necessary to create their new freight/distribution facility," said Mr. Richards. "We worked closely with representatives of Airborne to ensure that their current requirements and specifications were met, while at the same time, creating a situation which would effectively address the company's future expansion needs."

Richards & Robbins next turned to the Insignia/ESG team of Robert Sager of the Saddle Brook, N.J. office, and Mort Fetterolf and Brian Knowles of Insignia/ESG's Philadelphia office to release the space vacated by Airborne at 155 Ninth Ave. The Insignia/ESG team quickly leased more than three-quarters of the space to Quality Automotive Parts, Inc., Dynamic Forces, Inc., and Colortronics, Inc.

"Quality companies like Airborne and Colortronics are attracted to Runnemede Corporate Center because of the building's image, its quality construction, advanced infrastructure, unparalleled location, and highway access," said Mr. Sager. "With immediately available blocks of class "A" space up to 20,000 SF, and build-to-suit opportunities of up to 80,000 SF, Runnemede Corporate Center is quickly becoming one of the leading choices for tenants in Southern New Jersey."

Runnemede Corporate Center, conceived as an 11-building, 500,000 SF corporate campus on 60 sculptured acres, currently consists of six completed buildings and seven available sites for build-to-suits ranging from 6,000 to 52,000 SF. The property is strategically located at the halfway point along the Boston/Washington Corridor, in close proximity to Centercity Philadelphia and Delaware. Located at Exit 3 of the N.J. Turnpike, the park is highly accessible to Route 1-295, Route 42, Atlantic City Expressway, and Philadelphia International Airport, and is the only park offering new class "A" space in the area. Runnemede Corporate Center offers flexible tenant space (SED Zoning), which can accommodate retail, commercial, light assembly, and industrial/distribution uses.

The energy-efficient steel, block, and glass-constructed buildings offer the necessary mechanical features for most tenant requirements. Each building offers numerous amenities including private entrances, drive-in/tailboard loading docks, and 20 to 26-foot clear ceiling heights.