Opus Group Wraps Up Work on Minneapolis Trio

The Nordeast Business Center in Minneapolis. Image courtesy of The Opus Group

The Opus Group has completed three industrial developments in the Minneapolis area. Construction on the Nordeast Business Center in Minneapolis, the Sanctuary Business Center in Blaine, Minn., and the Johnny Cake Business Center in Apple Valley, Minn., wrapped up in early 2023. Opus developed, designed and built all three projects, also acting as architect and structural engineer.

The 130,439-square-foot Nordeast project, which sits at the corner of University and 37th avenues, is near the city’s border with St. Paul, as well as interstate 694 and 94. With a 32-foot clear height and multiple loading doors, the project has space for multiple tenants. Greentech Renewables and Consolidated Electrical Distributors are the first lessees at the property, occupying more than 90,000 square feet. CBRE is marketing the remaining 40,439 square feet.

Sanctuary Business Center, meanwhile, is located 15 miles north of Minneapolis, right off of Interstate 35W in the Twin Cities suburb of Blaine. The 137,178-square-foot building similarly has a 32-foot clear height and loading options. Industrial wholesaler ORS Nasco has leased 45,642 square feet at the site, with Cushman & Wakefield seeking lessees for the remaining 91,536 square feet.

Colliers is marketing all of the available space at Johnny Cake Business Center, which is located at 6175 147th Street W. in the suburb of Apple Valley. Situated near Interstates 35W and 494, the 111,820-square-foot building has a 28-foot clear height and 26 dock doors.

Minneapolis industrial performs despite headwinds

Industrial demand in the Minneapolis market remains strong, despite headwinds caused by higher interest rates and uncertainty in the capital markets, Phil Cattanach, senior vice president & general manager at Opus, said in a statement.

The Minnetonka, Minn.-based developer announced the construction of 13 industrial projects in 2022, including two in its home state. The Climate by Design International Headquarters in Owatonna, Minn., and the River Valley Business Park in Shakopee, Minn., are due online in August and December 2023, respectively.

The company is also constructing Deer Valley 30, a three-building, 356,000-square-foot speculative industrial project in Phoenix and Sun Empire, a 3.9 million-square-foot industrial park in Aurora, Colo. Opus expects to complete the construction of Deer Valley in October and to finish the first phase of Sun Empire at some point later this year.