Company Trades Brookfield for Milwaukee’s Innovation District
National contract furniture dealer Henricksen moves to trendy Walker’s Point building.
Eagleknit Innovation Hub, 507 S. 2nd St. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
National contract furniture dealer Henricksen has completed its move from Brookfield to a historic Walker’s Point building.
The company opened a 14,500-square-foot office and showroom on the fourth floor of the Eagleknit Innovation Hub, 507 S. 2nd St. Henricksen signs now adorn the exterior of the four-story building.
The new “experience center” serves as a workplace for Henricksen’s 25 Milwaukee-area employees and a showroom where potential clients can test furniture and explore workplace design options.
“We’ve always believed that the best way to show clients and partners what’s possible is to let them experience it firsthand,” said Chris Knoeppel, Henricksen’s chief growth officer, in a statement. “This move is a reflection of everything we stand for — the depth of our expertise, the quality of our partnerships, our commitment to the region, and our dedication to creating environments where people and organizations can truly thrive.”
Founded in 1962, Henricksen is one of the country’s largest privately held contract furniture dealerships. It represents more than 300 manufacturers and provides furniture, architectural walls and other interior products for offices, hospitals, schools, government facilities, senior living facilities and hotels.
The company previously operated from a building at 3070 Gateway Rd. in Brookfield. Henricksen announced the Walker’s Point move in October after selling the Brookfield property.
Its new space was designed by Kahler Slater. The office includes workstations, private offices, conference rooms, a design lab, studio spaces and a hospitality-oriented café.
The suite spans portions of Eagleknit’s historic structure and a contemporary addition. The older section retains hardwood floors, concrete columns, exposed steel pipes, beams and Cream City brick.
Henricksen said it spent four months designing a passage between the building’s two sections and reopening a long-covered skylight. Private offices and conference rooms were placed in the building’s interior to preserve access to natural light and exterior views for employees working throughout the space.
A courtyard with live trees and picnic tables overlooks Lake Michigan.
“This new space is a testament to the team we’ve built and the relationships we’ve cultivated across Wisconsin,” said Emily Hurd, Henricksen’s Wisconsin general manager and a company principal. “It sets the stage for everything we’re looking to accomplish in the region as we continue to grow our local footprint.”
Henricksen will hold a grand opening Wednesday, June 24, at its new office and showroom.
Indeed Brewing has previously used a portion of the fourth floor as a pop-up beer garden. Almost 12,000 square feet of space remains available for lease on the building’s top floor, according to a listing sheet from Colliers International.
The move gives Henricksen a prominent location within Milwaukee’s newly designated innovation district, which is centered in Walker’s Point and includes portions of the Harbor District, Walker Square and the Menomonee Valley.
Wangard Partners redeveloped the former Eagleknit Knitting Mills factory as a technology-focused office complex. Built in 1928, the building originally contained approximately 107,000 square feet. Wangard acquired it for $3.51 million in 2017 and completed a $30 million redevelopment, including a 30,000-square-foot glass addition, in 2021.
The redevelopment was designed by architecture firm Gensler and constructed by Findorff.
The Eagleknit building has become the home for a collection of technology companies, startups and community organizations, including workforce training nonprofit i.c.stars, Dan Beyer Architects, Tredo Group, REYN Engineering, Forward Community Investments and SRH.
Islands of Brilliance, which provides creative technology programming for autistic individuals, recently moved into a 3,000-square-foot space in the building.
Henricksen was represented by Jim Cavanaugh and Katie Brueske of Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke on the lease, and Wangard was represented by Jenna Maguire and Matt Fahey of Colliers.
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Other furniture dealers like EBI and Duet are very close to this spot. Forward Space is also somewhat nearby. I don’t think its a coincidence they chose to be there. Its the office furniture showroom district /s