Wangard Partners is continuing to develop Highlands Business Park in Sussex, this time with a 150,002-square-foot industrial building.

Highlands Business Park is northwest of Highways 164 and K, and in a growing industrial area where village administrator Jeremy Smith said it is helping to "provide more opportunities for people to work and live" in Sussex.  

This Wauwatosa-based developer announced the building plans feature 60-foot speed-loading bays, two drive-in doors, 10 loading dock doors, interior LED lighting and a sprinkler system. Also, in the plans are 102 car parking spaces and up to 43 trailer parking spaces.

“The building is being developed for a variety of light industrial uses, and we have the ability to demise the facility to accommodate multiple tenants,” said Ryan Holzhauer, director of industrial development for Wangard Partners. “We designed a flexible floorplan and will have pre-engineered ‘punch out’ dock positions that can increase the facility’s loading capacity if a tenant requires more loading.”

Terry McMahan, an industrial broker hired from Cushman & Wakefield to market the facility, said the building is already having some early tenant activity.

The expected completion date is slated for December.

Wangard Partners started construction for Highlands Business Park in 2019 and did the master planning in 2018, according to a news release from the company. According to this news release, since then, it has sold lots to Kwik Trip, Educators Credit Union and, most recently, Adrian Tool. 

Earlier this year, the village of Sussex approved Wangard plans to expand the 149-acre business park by 40 acres, which would allow for another 600,000 square feet of industrial development, according to documents filed with the village. The proposal also included an additional 36 acres for residential development.

Construction has already begun on a 45-home single-family subdivision, Redford Hills, in the expansion area, Smith said. Smith said he anticipates construction will be completed in spring. The subdivision will cover about 36 acres, he said.

There is still a strong demand for industrial space in the face of inflation and the risk of a recession, according to the industrial brokers for the project.

“ A challenge in our world has actually been a lack of available space” said Cody Ziegler, one of the industrial brokers hired from Cushman & Wakefield to market the facility. “Vacancy rates are still at record lows. I credit a lot of activity to Wisconsin’s stable manufacturing environment and additional demand from warehouse tenants, especially e-commerce and fulfillment."

Steve Styga, another industrial broker hired for the project with the same company, added that “nearly all central Waukesha County, and especially the Sussex submarket, has been a growing market with very strong demand for years. There has been a need for more industrial product in the market and Wangard’s building in Sussex will help relieve some of the bottleneck industrial occupiers are experiencing.”

The plan is to have the Highlands Business Park finished by 2025.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.