Wangard Partners acquires former Kohls Innovation Center

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The former Kohls Innovation Center has new ownership in Menomonee Falls.

Milwaukee-based Wangard Partners acquired the Ridgewood Innovation Center, located at W165N5830 Ridgewood Dr., a more than 300,000-square-foot industrial facility.

An affiliate of Wangard Partners bought the land from Kohl’s Inc. for $17 million, state real estate records showed.

The building was first built as a manufacturing center in 1996 and was converted to an open-concept office in 2015, Wangard officials said. In 2025, the space returned to industrial use and was available for lease with original industrial features, officials added.

The building features high clear heights, complete air conditioning and expansive window lines that offer natural lighting, Wangard officials noted.

“This acquisition allows us to create a modern, flexible manufacturing space in a prime location, meeting a significant growing demand for industrial manufacturing in southeastern Wisconsin,” said Stewart Wangard, executive chairman of Wangard Partners. “By repurposing the former Kohl’s Innovation Center, we’re not just revitalizing a building – we’re reinvesting in the community, creating jobs and strengthening the region’s economic foundation,” he added.

Wangard Partners renamed the property Ridgewood Industrial Center, which is located on nearly 25 acres within the Silver Spring Corporate Park, officials said.

Mortenson was the construction manager for Kohl’s Corporation when the company transformed the manufacturing building into a corporate office.

The center includes 11 loading docks with the ability to expand, Wangard officials said. The property is fully air conditioned, featuring a built-up fan system supported by three chillers, which include two at 300 tons and one at 200 tons. There are around 1,458 parking spaces available on the property, officials added.