The Opus Group® Welcomes TAB USA and Animal Health International to Liberty Heartland Logistics Center

12/3/2024
​The Opus Group is pleased to welcome TAB USA and Animal Health International to its Liberty Heartland Logistics Center development in Liberty, Missouri. Liberty Heartland Logistics Center is a multi-phase, three-building industrial development located 20 minutes north of Kansas City.

Phase one is an 847,475-square-foot build-to-suit distribution center for Hallmark, who moved into the facility in March 2023. Phase two includes two speculative buildings totaling 812,000 square feet located at 1401 and 1501 Shepherd Road. In April 2024, TAB, an international manufacturer of industrial batteries, moved into 66,700 square feet that houses its first U.S. headquarters and assembly and distribution operations. Animal Health International, a global distributor of animal health products, will open its new 255,000-square-foot distribution center in March 2025.

“The greater Kansas City area, including Liberty, is centrally located in the U.S., has  strong infrastructure and is very supportive of business growth. It's an attractive destination for companies looking to relocate, expand and more efficiently distribute their products," said Mike Stromberg, director of real estate development with Opus. “Liberty Heartland Logistics Center offers immediate access to major east-west and north-south highways and plenty of space for companies like TAB and Animal Health to expand now and grow well into the future."

Troy Livingston, CEO of TAB USA agrees. “Opening U.S. operations is a considerable business opportunity for us, and we recognized that the Kansas City area offered the business environment, skilled workforce and access to our North American customers that we need. At Liberty Heartland Logistics Center, we have a U.S. home base that can grow along with our operations. We appreciate Opus' work in getting us up and running swiftly."

In addition to it close proximity to Kansas City and major transportation routes, Liberty Heartland Logistics Center is also located within the 245 mile Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, the largest concentration of animal health businesses in the world, including Animal Health International.

“We've called Liberty home since 2006. We're committed to the success of the community and our local employees, and we value the business opportunities the Corridor provides," said Jim Reed, regional operations manager with Animal Health International. “When we realized we needed more space, we were fortunate to find an opportunity in Liberty that could accommodate us. At Liberty Heartland Logistics Center, we're more than doubling our space, and we're continuing to reap all the great benefits that Liberty provides."

The greater Kansas City area has long been recognized as a hub for logistics and supply chain investments and has a strong and expanding manufacturing, food processing and science and technology presence.  

"The City of Liberty is committed to fostering a vibrant economic development environment to attract and retain private sector investment and jobs in Liberty," said Mayor Greg Canuteson. “We are proud to partner with developers like The Opus Group to provide the space needed to expand businesses like Hallmark and Animal Health International that already have a presence in Liberty. We are also thrilled to create dynamic opportunities for new companies like TAB for its U.S. Headquarters." 

Liberty Heartland Logistics Center, a joint venture between Opus and Washington Capital Management, Inc. on behalf of its institutional clients, sits on 66.13 acres and currently has 490,300 square feet of vacancy across its two buildings with317,000 square feet at 1401 Shepherd Road and 173,300 square feet at 1501 Shepherd Road.

Opus was the developer, design-builder, architect and structural engineer of record on the shell buildings and the architect and structural engineer of record on TAB USA's build out. Davidson Architecture & Engineering is the architect of record and Krudwig Structural Engineers is the structural engineer of record for the Animal Health International build out. Michael VanBuskirk, Mark Long, John Hassler and Scott Bluhm of Newmark Zimmer are marketing the buildings for lease.

About The Opus Group

The Opus Group®​ is a family of commercial real estate development, construction and design companies headquartered in Minneapolis with offices and projects across the country. Opus operates as an integrated, multidisciplinary team with expertise in development, capital markets and finance; project management and construction; and architectural design and engineering. The Opus Group includes Opus Holding, L.L.C. and its operating subsidiaries: Opus Development Company, L.L.C., Opus Design Build, L.L.C. and Opus AE Group, L.L.C. Specializing in industrial, office, residential, retail and institutional projects, Opus has broad capabilities, deep experience and a proven design-build model that delivers solutions for customers on time and on budget. For more information, visit www.opus-group.com and follow The Opus Group on LinkedIn and Instagram.​