Image courtesy of Opus

 

By HARMONY STILES

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa –  Opus announces that construction is underway on an advanced manufacturing facility for ContiTech, a group sector of Continental, at its existing plant in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.

Opus is the design-builder on the project and faces a key early milestone later this fall, when a portion of the mixing facility must be ready to support the installation of critical mixing equipment arriving from overseas.

Martin Gardner Architects is the architect of record, and Raker Rhodes Engineering is the structural engineer of record. The project is expected to be completed in June 2027.

The project highlights Opus’ growing presence in Eastern Iowa and their ability to deliver complex manufacturing environments driven by highly technical processes and equipment.

At more than 80,000 square feet, the new compounding center will integrate production, warehouse and office operations to support ContiTech’s hose and belt businesses while optimizing their North American mixing footprint. The development will include several distinct yet interconnected spaces, including a three-story 17,472-square-foot mixing facility, an automated high-bay warehouse, shipping and receiving, bulk storage and a 4,250-square-foot office and lab space – all linked to the existing facility to streamline and optimize operations.

Central to the project is the three-story mixing facility, which will support a specialized vertical manufacturing process in which raw materials are introduced on the upper level and move through advanced mixing lines to lower floors.

Originally envisioned as a structural steel facility, Opus proposed a precast concrete system to better accommodate the building’s substantial load demands while improving cost and schedule efficiency. Because the structural components will be fabricated off-site, extensive coordination was required early in design to align equipment layouts, material flow openings and specialty systems within the building structure. The facility also includes accommodations for a 35-ton bridge crane, automated guided vehicle forklifts and a mezzanine to support mixing and milling systems.

The project builds on Opus’ extensive experience delivering specialized industrial facilities for clients across North America, including BAE Systems, Spectro Alloys, Charter Communications and Elgin Recycling. In each case, Opus leveraged its integrated design-build approach to align complex building systems with operational needs, helping clients bring advanced manufacturing capabilities online efficiently.