From the Ground Up: Banta foods addition

Address: 1620 N. Packer Road

Owner/developer: Banta Foods

General contractor: Walton Construction Co. Inc.

Architect: Sapp Design Associates Architects PC

Engineers: Malone Finkle Eckhardt & Collins Inc., Mettemeyer Engineering LLC and Great River Engineering

Size: 95,000 square feet

Estimated cost: $6.5 million

Lender: Bank of America

Estimated completion date: April, phase I

Project description: Banta Foods is adding warehouse and office space at its Springfield headquarters. The first of two phases, set for completion in April, comprises a 50,000-square-foot dry-goods warehouse and loading dock and 17,000 square feet of office space on two floors, according to project manager David Atkisson with Walton Construction. Phase II, a 20,000-square-foot freezer warehouse, training room and new entrance/lobby, is scheduled to be complete in early 2005. Atkisson said the existing lobby and offices will be torn down in phase II to accommodate the freezer warehouse. The company currently leases a warehouse one mile from its headquarters. President Chuck Banta said the addition will improve efficiencies by bringing all operations under one roof.