The $145 million port project includes two state-of-the-art processing buildings with the addition of on-site rail connections and truck loading areas.
JE Dunn Construction, the sixth largest general contractor in the U.S., in partnership with kasper architects, announces the completion of Southeast Toyota Distributors’ latest vehicle processing center, located at The Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT) in Jacksonville, Florida.
For the $145 million project, JE Dunn and kasper architects collaborated with Southeast Toyota Distributors, the world’s largest independent distributor of Toyotas, to relocate and modernize the company’s existing vehicle processing operation at JAXPORT from Talleyrand to Blount Island. When fully operational, the new center will have the capacity to process nearly 4,000 vehicles per week, a 6% improvement from the old facility.
“Work that directly helps our clients improve their overall business is always at the heart of every project we complete,” said Scott Bodden, Vice President, JE Dunn Construction. “The JAXPORT project exemplifies how our team of JE Dunn experts, bringing extensive port expertise, came prepared with solutions and insights to tackle complex challenges and keep the project aligned with our client’s goals. We are grateful to work with Southeast Toyota Distributors and help bring their vision to life.”
“Designing a facility of this scale required close collaboration and a clear understanding of Southeast Toyota’s operational needs, both today and for the future,” said Lauren Schwing, Senior Project Manager at kasper architects. “The project reflects a shared commitment to efficiency, long-term scalability and the associate experience, while positioning Southeast Toyota for continued growth at JAXPORT. Our team worked closely with Southeast Toyota and JE Dunn for more than three years, guiding the design from early planning through completion.”
The new facility spans over 380,000 square feet, housing seven buildings across 88 acres of land. The Accessory Installation Building, the primary building on the site, accounts for 272,000 square feet of the total blueprint and contains office space and several areas designed to enhance the associate experience, including a full kitchen, cafeteria, locker rooms and fitness center. The amenities support Southeast Toyota Distributors’ commitment to incorporating associate input into thoughtful, people-centered design solutions.
In addition to the new buildings, the property features essential tools and equipment that enable Southeast Toyota Distributors to streamline operations and increase efficiency, including a conveniently located fuel island to accelerate the fueling process, a 3-lane car wash and a rail connection system alongside electric vehicle charging stations. These additions will allow Southeast Toyota to scale its operations as Toyota’s Beyond Zero electrification efforts continue to grow. Other highlights include an associate-focused Operations Support and Training Center.
“The completion of this project is the culmination of the largest investment in our history,” said Eric Carter, group vice president of Operations, Southeast Toyota Distributors. “Now that construction is completed, we look forward to serving our dealer network even faster and better than before while continuing our long-term commitment to growth in Jacksonville.”
“Southeast Toyota Distributors is one of JAXPORT’s longest-standing tenants and a key part of our success as one of the nation’s leading vehicle-handling ports,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. “With Florida and the broader Southeast US continuing to add residents and visitors, their expanded capabilities allow us to efficiently serve rising demand for autos across our region and state — while supporting hundreds of quality local jobs.”
The JAXPORT project is the second that JE Dunn Construction has completed for Southeast Toyota Distributors in the past five years. In 2020, JE Dunn completed construction of a 300-acre vehicle processing center in Commerce, Georgia, featuring 12 new buildings, miles of underground piping and 2.25 miles of new rail line to connect the new site to existing infrastructure.
kasper architects relationship with Southeast Toyota Distributors spans 25 years, beginning in the early 2000s under founder Erik Kasper. Over the course of this long-standing partnership, Erik Kasper and the kasper team have also completed 12 buildings on Southeast Toyota’s Westlake campus in Northwest Jacksonville, providing architectural services that have supported the company’s growth and long-term vision.
To learn more about JE Dunn’s work with Southeast Toyota Distributors, visit www.jedunn.com.
To learn more about kasper architects + associates work with Southeast Toyota Distributors, visit www.kasperarch.com.
