Chicago Construction News staff writer
MWI Property Group (MWI) hosted a groundbreaking event last month at the Gateway Business Center (GBC). This master planned business park located in Geneva will feature 2.5 million SF of Class A industrial space on multiple lots spanning 211 acres once fully built out. Spaces will range from fully fully entitled sites to speculative and built-to-suit spaces ranging from 30,000 SF to 1.1 million SF.
“We’re proud to be part of this 211-acre development with MWI Propertyy Group in Geneva IL, helping bring big plans to life with some serious earthwork,” Plote Construction wrote on social media following the event.
The scope of work will include:
- 1.2 million CY of earth excavation
- 17,400 SY of 8.5” PCC pavement
- 7,800 LF of curb and gutter
“Always a good day when the crews are moving dirt and progress forward. Let’s build something great,” the company stated.
The project includes constructing a nearly one-mile extension of Kautz Road that will provide a link to IL-38 and Fabyan Parkway improving access to the entire corridor and business park. They are also preserving and dedicating a 40 acre protected conservancy area along the western portion of the park.
A new Geneva electrical substation is also being built on one of the lots at the southeast end of the park and will provide redundant power capacity with the rest of Geneva’s power grid at the lowest power rates in the submarket. Mass grading operations have commenced on the Kautz Road extension and associated park infrastructure. These improvements will be completed by the end of 2025.
“We are very excited to officially launch this Class A industrial park we have worked for years to assemble, entitle and master plan,” said Justin Fierz, Principal with MWI. “There has not been a new park developed of this size and scale in the west suburbs in decades.
“We look forward to attracting more world-class companies to the park and the area in the years to come. We already have strong initial prospect activity and look forward to announcing our first building soon.”
MWI Construction LLC is the design-build general contractor for the business park with Pinnacle Engineering and Harris Architects providing engineering and design services.
“Marking more than two decades of visioning, planning, strategizing, calibrating, debating and deciding. . . while always remaining true to our community’s strategic goal of purposeful development and economic vitality – Geneva residents will benefit from the broadening tax base and our community will be elevated even higher as a premier destination to site and grow opportunities,” said Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns. “The Class A Gateway Business Center is soon to be known throughout the Chicago region and beyond.”
