The Opus Group is set to expand the industrial office and warehouse footprint in Greater Des Moines by several hundred thousand square feet.

It is ready to start construction on a 208,252-square-foot speculative industrial office and warehouse facility in Ankeny’s Corporate Woods Industrial Center, a 50-acre site that can accommodate up to three buildings totaling 600,000 square feet.

“Our 10-year history in Iowa provides the foundation and local expertise necessary to make this project a success,” said Jason Conway, director of real estate development for Opus Development Co. LLC, which has is based in Minneapolis.

Jeff Smith, who guides the company’s Iowa operations, said the location near Interstate Highways 35 and 80 “played heavily in the site selection.”

A speculative project is not keeping Conway and Smith up at night.

“There are a lot of people who come to town but there is nothing available for them, so they move on,” Conway said.

Greater Des Moines has low industrial vacancy, typically no more than 3 percent, and with an emphasis placed on next-day delivery, the demand is present for more projects.

“It’s economy 101,” Conway said. “When demand is high and supply is low, you probably should build, build, build.”

The initial warehouse will offer 32-foot clear height, ESFR sprinkler systems, LED lighting, up to 50 dock doors and 115 parking spaces with room for expansion. It will be located on about 19 acres. Construction will begin this month and be completed this fall.

Marcus Pitts and Justin Lossner with Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) will market the property for lease.

The Opus Group also is poised to begin construction on a 182,000-square-foot warehouse in the Gateway Industrial Center in Grimes. The building will front Iowa Highway 141. It, too, will feature 32-foot heights, as well as 23 loading docks, build-to-suit office space, parking for 110 automobiles and semitrailer parking at docks.

The Grimes warehouse is being leased by Kermit Marsh of Iowa Realty Commercial.