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Why is Compass Properties focused on Wisconsin? We have deep roots in the Wisconsin area, and we’ve acquired decades of experience and local knowledge. We’re vested not only in the clients we serve, but in the communities in which we operate. By focusing on the markets we know best, we can optimize our resources to deliver a consistent, high quality customer experience through our highly skilled/locally based maintenance team and our award winning real estate development staff.  Here in Wisconsin, we are very well positioned – lean enough to be nimble, but large enough and well capitalized to be a sizable force in our target markets. Has the “back-to-the-city” movement for businesses changed the way you look at commercial development? We’ve invested and developed downtown properties since our inception.  So it’s been exciting to see the influx of businesses across the country coming back to urban centers in [...]

One of the more controversial forms of architecture, Brutalism has made its way back and could be on the verge of a “breakout moment” in the United States, according to Michael Kubo, an architect and architectural historian. In Britain, the style “has become very, very faddish,” Kudo  notes, and “I feel like Britain is 15 years ahead of what might happen in the U.S.” Brutalism first became popular through the work of British architects, Alison and Peter Smithson. According to a New York Times article, “Brutalism is Back,” the purity of its composition of concrete, steel and/or brick is what creates its honest feel. This simplicity was revitalizing after the political turmoil of World War II, as leaders and civilians in many countries found it a symbol of strength, unity, and positive outlook on the future. Wausau is fortunate to have its own building featuring Brutalist Architecture [...]

A growing number of companies are embracing wellness as numerous scientific studies show a positive return-on-investment for these programs.   Many property management companies have started to embrace wellness as well in their design and day-to-day activities. Many office centers now offer on-site work-out facilities, walking trails, bike parking, and use design to encourage physical activity.  Employees are finding healthier food choices in common areas, more greenery in their work area, outdoor gathering spaces and special events geared toward wellness. In a recent blog article, Compass Properties’ Sheldon Oppermann went so far as to say that “employee wellness is the next big thing in commercial real estate.”   He cited a recent AFLAC Workforces Report that found effective wellness programs result in an average of 28% fewer sick days taken, 26% reduction in health care costs and a 30% reduction in workers’ compensation and disability management claims. Focusing on wellness has become [...]