Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar Inc., which last year acquired Bucyrus International Inc., plans to expand its presence in the Milwaukee area, according to commercial real estate sources.
As part of the Bucyrus acquisition, Caterpillar made Oak Creek its global mining equipment headquarters. Bucyrus, previously based in South Milwaukee, in 2010 acquired the former Midwest Airlines corporate headquarters complex in Oak Creek, but maintained operations in its plant and former headquarters in South Milwaukee.
Now Caterpillar is seeking additional space in the Milwaukee area. The firm has been seeking about 25,000 square feet of office space, according to sources.
A spokesman for Caterpillar could not be reached for comment.
Caterpillar has considered leasing about 25,000 square feet of space in the Liberty Corporate Preserve I building at 10050 S. 27th St., Oak Creek, said Neal Driscoll, vice president of leasing and development at Liberty Property Trust, which recently sold that building and most of its southeastern Wisconsin portfolio.
One source said Caterpillar was seeking space in Oak Creek to create a data center.
Another source said the company is considering plans to create a data center, an engineering technology center and a plant in southeastern Wisconsin. The company is expected to announce its plans by early June, that source said.
