Highfield Investment Group will build a 1,230,000-square-foot distribution facility for Lowe’s Canada in Rocky View County, north of Calgary. (Lowe’s Canada)

Highfield Investment Group of Calgary will build a new $120-million, 1.23-million-square-foot distribution centre for home improvement retailer Lowe’s Canada in Rocky View County just north of the city.

Lowe’s, which has its Canadian headquarters in Boucherville, Que., said in a release Wednesday the project is part of efforts to optimize its Canadian distribution network.

The distribution centre will be located in the High Plains Industrial Park, a massive distribution hub located just north of the Calgary city limits. The distribution centre is scheduled to open in the fall of 2021.

“High Plains Industrial Park is centre ice for corporate Canada’s Western distribution centres and e-commerce fulfillment facilities due to its excellent transportation efficiencies, outstanding labour force, and compelling rent economics,” said Adrian Munro, president of Highfield Investment Group, in the release. “We’re excited to be the developer of choice for the largest leased distribution centre in Western Canada.”

Lowe’s operates 470 corporate and affiliate stores across Canada mainly under the Lowe’s and RONA banners.

“This new distribution centre will allow us to substantially enhance our distribution network capacity and serve our Lowe’s and RONA corporate stores and customers, as well as our RONA-affiliated dealers, more efficiently throughout Western Canada,” said Gregor Stuart, senior vice-president, supply chain at Lowe’s Canada, in the release.

“We are thrilled with this new venture.

“With the recent acquisition of our Boucherville distribution centre in Quebec, it is yet further evidence of Lowe’s Canada’s commitment to always better serving our Canadian customers.”

Construction set to begin

Construction is to commence this month. The centre will consolidate the capacity of several existing Lowe’s Canada satellite warehouses and regional distribution centres in the Calgary market.

However, Lowe’s existing distribution centre at 2015, 60 St. SE in Calgary, will not be impacted by this project and will remain in operation.

The High Plains Industrial Park is part of Highfield’s portfolio. It’s an 1,100-acre master planned industrial park located in Rocky View County in the northeast corner of Calgary’s greater metro area.

High Plains is already home to numerous corporate clients including GFS, Smucker’s, Borger, Sobeys and Penske. High Plains has close to three million square feet under roof since construction on its first building began in 2012.

Advisors and partners to the parties include Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage for Lowe’s Canada and CBRE, Hillwood, and Highwood for Highfield Investment Group.

About Lowe’s Canada

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (LOW-N) is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving approximately 18 million customers a week in the United States and Canada. 

With fiscal year 2019 sales of $72.1 billion, Lowe’s and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ approximately 300,000 associates.

Lowe’s Canadian business, together with its wholly owned subsidiary, RONA inc., operate or service more than 470 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats under different banners.

These include Lowe’s, RONA, Réno-Dépôt and Dick’s Lumber.

In Canada, the companies have more than 26,000 associates, in addition to approximately 5,000 employees in the stores of independent affiliate dealers operating under the RONA banner. 

About Highfield Investment Group

Highfield is a diversified investment company that operates and manages assets in residential, commercial & industrial real estate developments, construction, property management, oil and gas, hospitality, farming operations and thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operations. 

With a 4,000-acre assembly of land currently under management, Highfield is one of the largest privately owned and independent land developers in Calgary.