DETROIT — The $30 million Cardinal Health Distribution Center has opened in Detroit.
“We know that thriving, local health systems are vital to the health of a community,” says Steve Inacker, president of hospital sales and services at Cardinal Health. “Our collaboration with Detroit Medical Center and Henry Ford Health System enables us not only to support revitalization efforts in the city but also to drive supply chain efficiencies for our customers across Michigan, northern Ohio and northern Indiana so that all these systems can continue to focus on delivering accessible, responsive and personalized care to their patients.”
Situated on 18 acres of property on Rosa Parks Boulevard just north of I-94, the distribution center is a sprawling commercial enterprise that enhances a neighborhood that not too long ago resembled withering, desolate fields and crumbling industrial structures. It is a juxtaposition of old and new Detroit and symbolizes optimism for what could come next.
The state-of-the-art distribution center is designed to meet the growing health care needs of the local community and will allow for future growth, service expansion and support in an ever-changing health care landscape.
A multi-year project, the distribution center’s opening comes nearly one year after construction began. It is 275,000 square feet with interior features that honor Detroit’s industrial past and celebrate the future. Some accent walls are surfaced with boards and railroad ties preserved from the original site while others are painted in vibrant Cardinal Health brand colors. The facility houses about 100 employees, many of whom relocated from Cardinal Health’s previous location in Romulus near Detroit Metro Airport.
In 2012, Henry Ford announced a $500 million expansion of its Henry Ford Hospital campus in Detroit for the next 10-15 years, including green space and commercial, retail and housing developments. CEO Nancy Schlichting says the Cardinal Health project was always seen as a catalyst for the expansion of its flagship hospital to be south of West Grand Boulevard and north of I-94.
“With more than 100 years in Detroit, Henry Ford Health System has always believed in investing in the community beyond providing health care,” Schlichting says. “We anticipate this development could lead to further revitalization in the city.”
DMC’s more than 20-year partnership with Cardinal Health was also key to the company’s relocation to Detroit. As part of the development, DMC and Henry Ford have long-term distribution agreements with Cardinal Health.