Penguin Random House celebrated the official ribbon cutting of its expanded national distribution and fulfillment center in Crawfordsville on Tuesday.
The expansion adds 650,000 square feet to the existing 950,000 square foot facility, representing more than a 60% increase in size and marking a milestone in the company’s U.S. supply chain growth strategy.
Planning for the expansion began in the summer of 2023 following years of careful consideration. Construction broke ground in September 2024, and the new building was completed in less than a year.
With this investment, Penguin Random House will be able to double its annual shipments of physical print books to retailers nationwide, ensuring faster, more efficient delivery of titles to booksellers and readers. The project strengthens the facility’s workforce of 800 employees and solidifies Penguin Random House’s position as one of Indiana’s leading employers.
The Crawfordsville distribution facility is one of four major U.S. supply-chain hubs for Penguin Random House, alongside two in Maryland and a third in Reno, Nevada. With this expansion, Crawfordsville becomes the largest in the network, further underscoring its critical role in connecting authors with readers across the country.
As part of the expansion, Penguin Random House has also begun construction of a 6.3MW solar field on the site, which will be among the largest in the region. Once operational, the solar field is expected to offset a significant portion of the facility’s energy use and will generate enough electricity to power more than 750 U.S. households annually. This investment highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to increase efficiency while reducing its environmental footprint.
At the ribbon cutting, Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton, along with Penguin Random House and Crawfordsville facility leadership, joined employees and community members to commemorate the milestone.
“Our Crawfordsville facility is at the heart of our mission to connect authors and readers,” said Jeff Abraham, Chief Operating Officer, Penguin Random House U.S. “With this expansion, we are building capacity for the future by helping us serve booksellers and readers more effectively while continuing to invest in our employees and our community.”
Barton added that Penguin Random House has proven to be a strong partner in moving the community forward.
“We greatly appreciate their continued investment in Crawfordsville,” Barton said. “This investment not only positions their Crawfordsville facility in a flagship position, it is reflective of their ongoing commitment to the success and growth of their local operations.”
With the completion of this project, Penguin Random House reaffirms its commitment to readers, booksellers, and the Crawfordsville community, ensuring that millions of books will continue to reach readers quickly and efficiently for years to come.
