Plans to Break Ground on a New 447,000 SF Warehouse Building This Spring

HSA Commercial Real Estate and Boston-based Washington Capital Management, on behalf of a client, today announced Visual Pak Companies has executed a 472,176-square-foot lease for an entire building at the newly developed first phase of the Bristol Highlands Commerce Center in Bristol, Wis. Visual Pak, based in Waukegan, Ill., provides contract packaging and manufacturing solutions for a variety of well-known food, personal care, automotive and healthcare brands. The firm is scheduled to take occupancy of the new facility in the second quarter after interior improvements are completed.

Located at Wilmot Road and 136th Avenue, near I-94 and the Wisconsin-Illinois border, the first phase of the Bristol Highlands Commerce Center includes the 472,176-square-foot facility to be occupied by Visual Pak as well as a rear-load 157,300-square-foot warehouse building. Bristol Highlands Commerce Center features a campus-like design that includes generous setbacks, sizable walking paths, an upgraded detention pond, enhanced landscaping and several signage features.

HSA Commercial Real Estate plans to start construction this spring on a 447,000-square-foot distribution center as part of the development’s second and final phase. This warehouse facility will offer 36-foot clear heights, 73 truck docks, and ample parking for employees with projected building completion in the fourth quarter.

“We are excited Visual Pak has chosen Bristol Highlands to expand its presence in southeast Wisconsin and strengthen the logistics chain to serve its existing client base,” said Robert Smietana, vice chairman and CEO for HSA Commercial Real Estate. “The volume of tenant interest and pace of leasing activity has caused us to accelerate our plans for the third building at Bristol Highlands which we plan to break ground on this spring.”

“With new distribution facilities for Amazon, Uline, Haribo and more, the scope and pace of economic development occurring in southeast Wisconsin is truly remarkable, and we are grateful to play our part in transforming the area through the development and leasing of this business park,” said Tim Thompson, executive vice president for HSA Commercial Real Estate

HSA Commercial Real Estate is one of the most active industrial developers in southeast Wisconsin with over two million square feet of warehouse space under construction or proposed throughout the region including projects in Mt. Pleasant, Oak Creek, Waukesha, Cudahy and Franklin. The firm helped pioneer the growth of the I-94 corridor in southeast Wisconsin as a regional logistics and manufacturing hub through the development of the 184-acre Park 94 business park which is now home to headquarters for Seda International Packaging Group and InSinkErator.

Whit Heitman of CBRE represented Visual Pak Companies in the lease transaction. Jeff Hoffman and Eric Fischer of Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke together with Tim Thompson of HSA Commercial Real Estate represented ownership of the property.