Opus North

Be prepared┬áThings donÔÇÖt always go exactly to plan, so having a fallback position is an essential requirement for survival, as Alan T Swaby learns. Coping with adverse trading conditions calls for strategies that have additional benefits to the customer or that set one particular organization apart from the rest. Sometimes they need to be created; at other times they are already in place and simply need switching on.Take the Opus Corporation as an example. Opus is a North American real estate developer whose preferred model is to find a site, build something to go on it and then move on after selling the development to some other organization. But if purchasers are in short supply and a backup plan is called for, then Opus is prepared to take on responsibility as site manager in the meantime. ItÔÇÖs a pragmatic way of working that, under the current circumstances, is worth its weight in gold. The Opus Group has come a long way since its modest origins as a building contractor back in the 1950s. From its base in Minneapolis, it has created five independent regional divisions within the United States plus another division for Canada. Its role as a full-service real estate developer with in-house design, engineering and construction resources sees it regularly ranked in the top ten developers of commercial or institutional projects; yet it still remains in the hands of the founding family.Opus North can date its roots back to 1972, when the second office (after Minneapolis) was opened in Milwaukee, marking OpusÔÇÖs first expansion drive. Today, in the satellite city of Waukesha, a short distance to the west of Milwaukee, phase I of OpusÔÇÖs first retail project in that area is not far from finalization.The Shoppes at Fox River is a half-million-square-foot retail center on a 54-acre site that for 40 years went through several incarnations, the last being a distribution center for the Supervalu chain. After the center closed, the site remained unused for years despite several attempts at redevelopment. In 2007 Opus North threw its hat in the ring and produced a winning formula that saw the site being razed in April last year and construction under way in August.When the center opens this July it will have Target and Pick ÔÇÿn Save on board. (A third anchor store that was planned for the site has pulled back its expansion plan.) ÔÇ£Interestingly,ÔÇØ says project manager Jeffrey Hook, ÔÇ£a lot of retailers who showed signs of pulling away late last year are becoming engaged again. There was certainly a period of fear and panic when the banking sector went into freefall and people had no idea what to expect around the corner. It looks like retailers are now beginning to get a better grasp of the new economic reality. TheyÔÇÖre modifying their plans but recognize that they still have some sort of future to plan for. ÔÇ£We also feel that weÔÇÖre in a somewhat unique position,ÔÇØ Hook continues, ÔÇ£in that weÔÇÖre already under construction with quality anchors. IÔÇÖm sure thereÔÇÖs a lot of skepticism in the retail world that what isnÔÇÖt already being financed wonÔÇÖt be any time soon, and developments that are still only on paper will never get off the architectÔÇÖs desk.ÔÇØ Hook believes that in the short term at least, clients will move cautiously, reducing the extent of their expansion plans and making the need for some kind of unique selling proposition even more essential. In the case of the Fox River project, LEED certification is making a contribution to more than one party.In Wisconsin, Pick ÔÇÿn Save is the single most dominant supermarket chain, and it is using its involvement at Fox River to respond to market demands for a price-conscious but experiential shopping environment with sustainable elements; that is, one with reasonable prices but without the bare-bones look and feel of the typical warehouse store.ÔÇ£Many of the projects weÔÇÖve built over the past few years,ÔÇØ says Hook, ÔÇ£have been built to LEED standards without necessarily getting the actual certificationÔÇöa lengthy and costly process. But weÔÇÖre going for it with the grocery store and believe we may even hit Silver levelÔÇösomething thatÔÇÖs still somewhat rare in retail and would certainly show a significant commitment from a grocery retailer like Pick ÔÇÿn Save.ÔÇØThe nuances of the LEED standards make it almost impossible to certify the entire development, because it would require every tenant to obtain such certification, which would make leasing more difficult. What Opus is doing is documenting the performance of the design and construction of the development in accordance with LEED standards and considering actually pursuing LEED certification for the four small-shop building shells, which are the signature buildings at the front entrance to the center. In addition, Opus has taken an ecologically sound stance from the beginning of the entire project by recycling demolished material in the new construction. All concrete and asphalt from the existing facility was crushed and kept on site, and serious consideration was given as to whether the original joists could also be reused in the new structures. In the end, that aim proved not to be practical, but some six million pounds of steel were salvaged and recycled.Lying alongside the Fox River, the new center rubs shoulders with walking and cycling tracks that are popular with residents, and care has been taken to impact the surrounding nature reserves as sympathetically as possible. Aesthetically, the shopping center reflects the architectural style of years gone by, when resorts centered around the cityÔÇÖs natural springs attracted residents from as far as Chicago looking for a wellbeing weekend. The design of the center reflects the architecture of that period, making use of the locally quarried limestone. ÔÇ£ThereÔÇÖs a considerable amount of civic interest in the Fox River project,ÔÇØ says Hook, ÔÇ£which will be the largest in the city. As such, everyone is prepared to go a little further to ensure a resource we can all be proud of.ÔÇØAlthough not unique, itÔÇÖs still rare to have all the functions a developer needs in-house: site procurement, architectural design, engineering and construction. ItÔÇÖs a mix that gives Opus enormous flexibility to tailor a package exactly the way a client wants. In an ideal world, once that work is complete, Opus much prefers to move on as quickly as possible. But even in good times, this isnÔÇÖt always possible. But with the Fox River project, having this skill is enabling the project to continueÔÇöperhaps a little slower than expected, but still intactÔÇöuntil normal service is resumed.  ÔÇô Editorial research by Steven Shah┬á