Brookfield-based Bader Rutter & Associates’ office space in Bishops Woods is for lease and available in May 2017, fueling speculation that the company will be moving to downtown Milwaukee.
The marketing firm had been in talks with Wangard Partners as a potential anchor tenant for an office building development at the former Laacke & Joys site, 1433 N. Water St. in Milwaukee.
Stewart Wangard, chief executive officer of Wauwatosa-based Wangard Partners, told BizTimes in February he was talking to Bader Rutter and others to anchor the project that will create a 113,830-square-foot office building.
Bader Rutter currently leases the entire second and third floors of 13845 Bishops Drive, and the majority of the first floor of the 80,000-square-foot building.
According to the property listing, the entire building will be available for occupancy in May 2017. Wangard has said he hopes to have the Laacke & Joys site ready by Spring 2017.
Wangard could not immediately be reached for comment.
Bader Rutter CEO Greg Nickerson said no decision yet has been made to leave Bishops Woods.
“Our building owner is simply hedging their bet,” Nickerson said. “When we have something to share, we will.”
Bader Rutter has been in the market for office space and has been considering plans to relocate since 2013. At that time, the firm was seeking 60,000 to 70,000 square feet of office space and was considering sites in the downtown Milwaukee area and in the western suburbs.
Bader Rutter has more than 200 employees, according to its website. Bader Rutter is represented by Siegel-Gallagher principal Marianne Burish, who could not be reached for comment.
