Case study
1433 North Water St — Sustainability Case Study
A historic structure transformed into a modern workplace—balancing preservation, performance, and river-adjacent stewardship.
Case studies & whitepapers
Real projects. Practical strategies. Long-term value.
Explore Wangard Partners case studies and whitepapers—featuring sustainability-first redevelopment, mixed-use transformation, sale-leaseback financing, and build-to-suit development strategies.
These resources are updated over time as new projects and strategic guides are published.
Library
Featured resources
Download the PDFs below. Each resource is designed to be actionable—whether you’re evaluating an adaptive reuse, structuring a sale-leaseback, or planning a build-to-suit project.
Case study
Freshwater Plaza — Mixed-Use Case Study
A former industrial site repositioned as a gateway destination—uniting retail, services, and housing in a visible, accessible corner.
Whitepaper
Wangard Partners’ Sale-Leaseback Financing Program
Sale-leasebacks are a cost-efficient way to unlock equity and raise cash—providing flexibility while allowing businesses to maintain long-term control of their real estate without disrupting operations.
This guide explores how sale-leasebacks can support capital reallocation, reduce debt, and fund core business priorities like growth, acquisitions, equipment, technology, shareholder distributions, stock buybacks, or facility upgrades.
Whitepaper + checklist
A Guide to Innovative Design & Financial Strategies in Build-to-Suit Developments
Build-to-suit developments deliver customized spaces tailored to specific operational needs—across a range of sectors. This guide introduces the fundamentals of build-to-suit projects and how to structure them for long-term success.
Includes essential strategies and a practical checklist—drawing on Wangard Partners’ experience delivering transformative, sustainable multifamily and commercial developments.
Explore related capabilities
Looking for help evaluating a project or strategy? Explore our development and property expertise across:
Case study
1433 North Water St — Sustainability Case Study
1433 North Water Street is a historic, sustainable icon in the making. Wangard seized the opportunity to transform a historic building into a state-of-the-art, modern office building that revitalizes the Park East Redevelopment area.
Originally a wagon works (1866–1925), the building evolved over time to support the automobile industry, then served as a machine shop for the Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company, and later became home to Laacke & Joys in 1957.
Wangard worked with Graef, Findorff, and Plunkett Raysich Architects through multiple design iterations to preserve what we could—reusing the 1930s portion of the structure and salvaging materials for adaptive reuse.
Considering an adaptive reuse or sustainability-first workplace? We can help evaluate feasibility, entitlements, design strategy, and execution risk.
Highlights from the project approach
- • Reuse of the 1930s structure where feasible while addressing deteriorated conditions in the older portion
- • Focus on energy and water efficiency, low-emitting materials, and occupant control over lighting + comfort
- • Enhanced pollution prevention due to proximity to the Milwaukee River
- • Construction waste diversion and careful monitoring to reduce landfill impact
- • Salvaged + repurposed materials (crushed concrete for backfill, cream city brick reuse, salvaged wood + windows)
Adaptive reuse requires disciplined coordination.
We align architecture, engineering, construction, and sustainability goals early—so decisions support schedule, cost, and long-term performance.
Start the conversationCase study whitepaper
Freshwater Plaza — from dirty site to community catalyst.
What is now known as Freshwater Plaza, a gateway mixed-use development, was initially the former Grede Foundries site at the corner of 1st Street and Greenfield Avenue. The vision: transform a challenged site into a place that supports daily life—bringing retail, services, and modern living together in a location built for visibility and access.
This case study shares how thoughtful planning, stakeholder alignment, and disciplined execution can turn underutilized land into a destination that benefits neighbors and drives long-term value.
Looking at a brownfield, infill, or gateway corner? We can help evaluate feasibility, entitlements, tenant strategy, and execution risk.
What you’ll learn
- • How a former industrial site became a mixed-use gateway destination
- • Stakeholder alignment tactics that protect schedule and approvals
- • Placemaking decisions that support leasing and long-term performance
- • A practical view of process—from concept through delivery
Want a quick feasibility conversation?
Share your site location, goals, and timeline—we’ll outline the path from due diligence to approvals to delivery.
Start the conversation