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Dansko’s one true goal is to leave the world a better place than they found it…one shoe at a time. Their new distribution center located in West Grove, Chester County, Pennsylvania, furthers the company’s mission to minimize its impact on the environment when conducting its business in the United States and throughout the world.

“Dansko” literally translated is Danish shoe. Designed by Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects of Kennett Square, PA, Dansko’s new distribution center is designed to underscore Dansko’s passion for promoting environmentally responsible living and in literally minimizing Dansko’s footprint on earth.

Dansko’s new distribution center is 205,000 square feet and is situated on a 16-acre site that given its size and location is characterized as a combination of previously developed and undeveloped. The project is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council with the goal of achieving DianLEED Silver Certification, and is scheduled for construction completion in November 2012.

The 796 Warehouse is a single-story, high-bay structure that will provide for receiving, storage, and distribution of shoes and garments. In addition to the common warehouse functions that include storage and conveying systems for the goods, the distribution center will provide comfortable amenities for employees.

The buildings that existed on the site were not suitable for use in conjunction with the distribution center; therefore, these buildings were carefully dismantled and re-purposed by contractors specializing in the reuse and resale of building structures. Other demolition waste was diverted from landfills by a combination of recycling and reuse onsite as structural fill. Utilities that previously serviced the property will be reused where applicable. The building design incorporates a high performing building envelope that utilizes structural precast concrete panels to provide superior and long-lasting performance as a weather barrier, thermal envelope and perimeter support column. In addition, the envelope includes a roof that not only provides superior protection as a thermal weather barrier; it provides outstanding service as a passive lighting component as well as a platform ready to support photovoltaic arrays. Materials throughout the building have been selected based on their performance, longevity, recycled or recyclable content, and their origin.

The consistent expression of Dansko’s “DNA” in the design of the façade is a genetic link to the Corporate Headquarters, also designed by Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects, and a reminder to the community of the strong environmental leadership and commitment that Dansko has taken in Chester County.

Dansko is a founding member of B Corp, an organization of more than 300 for-profit companies in more than 50 industries that have passed rigorous social and environmental standards that measure corporate good. In 2008, Dansko exhibited environmental leadership through the construction of their Corporate Headquarters that achieved LEED Gold.