Case Study: Commercial Landscape Maintenance for Industrial & Warehouse Facilities

As a property manager of an industrial or warehouse facility, you have more than your fair share of concerns.

An industrial facility, with its vast turf expanses, regular deliveries, and employee traffic, is a special environment. From large concrete areas to regular foot and vehicle traffic to rain runoff, these outdoor areas can take a beating.

Landscaping can be tough in this environment, but it is a big part of creating a positive, welcoming, professional-looking appearance. What does that mean for you, as the property manager? You have to stay on top of landscape-related issues.

That’s what KD Landscape had to do for CenterPoint Properties. CenterPoint acquires, develops, and manages state-of-the-art industrial facilities near major transportation nodes, ports, and population centers in America’s top industrial markets.

Based in Oak Brook, Illinois, CenterPoint sought more detailed work and better communication from their commercial landscape services provider.

About CenterPoint Properties

CenterPoint’s culture is driven by its mission as an investor, developer, and manager of industrial real estate. It works to design solutions to its customers’ most complex property, logistics and supply chain challenges.

The company acquires, develops, and manages industrial facilities near major transportation nodes, ports, and population centers in America’s top industrial markets.

The company’s key tenants include innovative problem-solving, unparalleled performance, and valued relationships.

So, naturally, they want to convey these values to the service partners they work with, including commercial landscape services.

CenterPoint Properties: Industrial Landscape Maintenance Challenges

CenterPoint’s headquarters are located in Oak Brook, Illinois.

The 6400-acre site dealt with developer-hired commercial landscaping construction groups that would install the landscape and cover the maintenance for one year under the developer warranty and no longer provide service.

CenterPoint found itself with a landscape that was only installed but never fully maintained. They were unhappy with the lack of detailed work or quality commercial landscape maintenance. They wanted to maintain a high-quality, aesthetically pleasing landscape that matched their corporate mission.

They also weren’t happy with the lack of communication they received from these companies.

CenterPoint Properties Solution Strategy and Implementation

Through prospecting and networking relationships, CenterPoint Properties brought in KD Landscape for commercial landscape services 8 years ago.

Initial Site Assessment

The process started with an initial site assessment to understand the existing landscape conditions, including plant health, soil quality, irrigation system status, and the state of hardscaping elements.

To do this, KD Landscape conducted a detailed on-site survey to assess the health of trees, shrubs, perennials, turf and hardscapes. This process helps determine the commercial landscape services needed and the frequency at which they should be done.

Client Consultation and Goal Setting

KD Landscape then aligned the commercial landscape maintenance strategy with the client’s expectations regarding aesthetics, functionality, and long-term goals.

This was done by meeting with the property manager to discuss priorities, budget and specific concerns, such as pest or weed issues and seasonal color changes. The end result ensures all maintenance activities are client-centric.

Seasonal Maintenance Goals and Resource Allocation

Next, KD Landscape developed a structured commercial landscape maintenance plan that addressed seasonal needs, such as spring cleanups, summer pruning, fall preparation, and winter protection.

For CenterPoint Properties, this specifically included seasonal ground maintenance, snow management, portering services, irrigation management, and waterway management.

This was followed by a resource allocation to ensure the company has the manpower, tools, and materials necessary for efficient execution. This means team members with specific expertise are allocated to handle recurring tasks, equipment is secured, and products like mulch, fertilizers, and pest control materials are stocked ahead of time.

For CenterPoint, especially, this meant allocating a dedicated labor force with equipment solely used for CenterPoint, which amounted to 10 dedicated crew members on-site, five days a week.

KD Landscape also acquired new and more efficient equipment to better service specific portions of the campus that require more specialized needs, such as large track machines with mower decks to service native areas and roadway vegetation and modified chemical applicators to avoid waterway contamination.

Maintenance equipment purchased included truck trailers and mowers, tractors, rough mow implements, and small engine equipment such as edgers and blowers.

Sustainability and Long-Term Health

To ensure CenterPoint Properties’ commercial landscaping remains healthy over time, reducing the need for emergency intervention, KD Landscape incorporates sustainable practices into the process.

This includes promoting biodiversity with native plants and ensuring irrigation systems are efficient to prevent water waste.

Monitoring and Adjustments

Creating a long-term, positive relationship then takes monitoring and adjustments.

CenterPoint Properties has been developed slowly over the course of KD Landscape’s 8 years on the site. The campus has new structures going in annually. When first contracted, the landscapes were new and immature, needing attention and care. This changed over the years as the landscapes matured.

To adjust each year, KD Landscape reviews the effectiveness of the commercial landscape maintenance plan and makes necessary adjustments to adapt to weather challenges or unexpected issues.

To do this properly, they set up a monthly or quarterly review meeting with the client to assess the progress and address new questions. Then, based on plant health and client feedback, they adjust the maintenance strategies as needed.

For CenterPoint, this included creating a budget with predictable schedules and fixing ancillary and material costs with multi-year obligations for improvements and efficiency goals on reducing costs.

CenterPoint Properties Results

KD Landscape has created a consultative relationship with CenterPoint Properties.

Earning the ability and trust from the client to be proactive with solutions and be subject matter experts helps build a long-term professional commercial landscaping marriage.

Lessons Learned on Industrial Landscape Maintenance at CenterPoint Properties

Listening to the client's needs and expectations allows KD Landscape to build a plan for success.

This type of commercial landscape maintenance relationship keeps both parties looking into the future in a growth pattern versus worrying about loss because the company’s labor force is stretched too thin and unable to provide the client with what they need.

The relationship builds based on KD Landscape’s ability to perform the work with the highest standard and quality the client expects and not for growing a number because it looks good on paper.

The Impact of Great Industrial Landscape Maintenance in Greater Chicago

KD Landscape has been working with CenterPoint Properties for 8 years. Their goal now is to continue building the relationship and portfolio while maintaining the sites in the best condition possible and updating needs and communication to stay consistent.

The company loves the partnership and communication it receives to help it maintain its industrial site aesthetics and create a plan for improvement within its timeframe and budget parameters. Strong communication is also ideal for their needs and preferences.

Just like CenterPoint, your industrial landscape maintenance may need some attention, better communication, and a plan for future aesthetic landscape enhancements.

But maybe you also have a lot on your plate, and you don’t have time to micromanage a landscape company or worry about whether the service provider you chose is neglecting your facility.

We understand. You’re busy, and your time is valuable. Let KD Landscape help. We can discuss your priorities and build trust so you feel like we’re listening to you and your needs. We can communicate with you and respond promptly so you’re never left wondering what’s next or if something is incomplete. We can proactively share impactful ideas to boost areas of your property that you didn’t even know needed attention.

Want to learn more about our landscaping for warehouses in Greater Chicago? Schedule an on-site consultation today. We’ll review your options together so you can make a wise choice.