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Cherne Enlists Opus to Develop, Design & Build Warehouse in Shakopee, Minn.

Cherne, an Oatey brand and leading provider of water, sewer and plumbing equipment, is growing. To support their expanding operations, Cherne enlisted Opus to develop, design and construct a 131,000-square-foot, build-to-suit manufacturing facility in Shakopee, Minn.

A southwest suburb of Minneapolis, Shakopee is experiencing tremendous growth in the industrial, commercial and residential sectors. The land was previously owned by the City of Shakopee and is in a choice location just off Highway 169 at Old Brick Yard Road in the Brick Yard Exchange. The area offers a skilled workforce and affordable housing options for families.

Opus is custom designing the building to optimize Cherne's present and future operations. With room to support the company's work and over 100 employees, the building will include:

  • 32-foot clear height
  • eight dock doors
  • three drive-in doors
  • 177 parking stalls
  • rooftop solar array producing 888 kilowatts
  • a fitness center
  • locker rooms
  • multi-faith prayer room

Like most industrial pursuits, the Cherne project requires a tight timeline for completion. Very early in the process, Opus' in-house, fully integrated development, design and construction teams expedited a detailed plan for Cherne that accommodates the company's compressed schedule and includes a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). This, coupled with Opus' proven performance and capabilities within the industrial sector, sealed the deal with Cherne by providing them with certainty of outcome and confidence that Opus will deliver a quality building on time and within budget.         

The project is slated for completion in March 2021.