Tropical Distribution Center is in the city of North Las Vegas with immediate access to Interstates 15 and 215 via the new Tropical Interchange. After evaluating 18 sites across multiple markets, Sephora chose North Las Vegas because of the proximity to major transportation hubs. The new facility, their fifth in the United States, allows Sephora to reach 97% of the country within two days and 60% of the country in one day. Access to talent was another benefit. The 713,000-square-foot, 40-acre facility accommodates 1,000 full-time employees who fulfill approximately 35,000 orders for their e-commerce customers and retail stores. The building’s advanced automation and robotic systems required high-quality design and construction. The 21,000-square-foot office has high-end finishes, spacious common areas, and outdoor seating. The warehouse accommodates tenant racking, pick-pack operations, receiving, and shipping.

There were a lot of complexities in bringing utilities and infrastructure to the Park. The development team had to pull power from 1.5 miles away, and 1 mile of sewer improvements were made for a total investment of over $13 million. The Sephora site had significant grade changes, requiring the developer to relocate the property line to accommodate a less steep slope across the site. The development team managed to deliver all phases of the park on budget and on schedule while managing extreme volatility and uncertainty in the supply chain, primarily related to wood and steel components. Construction began in July of 2018 and was completed in May of 2019.

The team developed energy modeling for energy code compliance with the City of North Las Vegas and NV Energy. The tenant desired a smart, sustainable “LEED-like” project. Products and services are designated as “good practice,” such as the recycling of construction waste, the use of low VOC and non-toxic paints and interior finishes, the use of low flow plumbing fixtures, and the use of less water for landscape irrigation. The structure was also designed and engineered to accommodate future rooftop solar. The conditioned building features 36-foot ceiling heights and a moment-resisting frame structural system.