HOUSTON — Construction is underway on a 600,000-square-foot build-to-suit facility for Emser Tile at Pinto Business Park, a commercial development in north Houston owned by Houston-based Hines and its joint-venture partner Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
Located near the southwest corner of Beltway 8 and I-45 North, Pinto Business Park is positioned to serve key regional transportation routes.
Emser Tile, the largest privately held designer and marketer of tile and natural stone in the United States, will occupy a 600,000-square-foot cross-dock distribution building that will function as the company’s primary distribution center for the south-central U.S.
Arch-Con Construction is the general contractor on the project, which is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2018.
The new facility features market-leading specifications designed to maximize operational efficiency, including a 36-foot clear height, a 500-foot building depth and 52-by-55-foot column spacing. These attributes will support streamlined material handling and high-density storage for Emser’s distribution needs.
“We are honored that Emser Tile has selected Pinto Business Park as its home for this mission-critical facility that will serve roughly 35 percent of the United States,” said Charlie Meyer, managing director at Hines.
Emser Tile was represented in the transaction by Jarret and Jeff Venghaus of JLL, while Hines was represented by Beau Kaleel of Cushman & Wakefield. Construction financing for the project is being provided by Comerica Bank.
“Houston’s strong population growth has driven rising demand for consumer durables and building supplies,” said Jeff Venghaus. “As a leading provider of tile and natural stone, Emser’s business has tracked that growth in the region.”
Since Hines, KKR and PRDI began developing Pinto Business Park, the complex has attracted more than 4 million square feet of industrial and logistics tenants. The park has averaged approximately 800,000 square feet of new construction annually since 2013, reinforcing its role as a major industrial hub in the Houston market.