Opus Breaks Ground on 80,000-SF Industrial Facility for Continental's ContiTech in Mount Pleasant, Iowa

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa — Opus has begun construction on a specialized compound mixing facility for ContiTech, a group sector of Continental Properties, at the company's existing plant in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, the firm announced May 21, 2026. The development spans more than 80,000 square feet and is designed to integrate production, warehouse, and office operations in support of ContiTech's hose and belt businesses.

Project Overview

The new compounding center will include several distinct yet interconnected spaces: a three-story, 17,472-square-foot mixing facility; an automated high-bay warehouse; shipping and receiving areas; bulk storage; and a 4,250-square-foot office and lab space. All sections will be physically linked to the existing Continental facility to streamline operations.

Central to the project is the three-story mixing facility, which will support a vertical manufacturing process in which raw materials are introduced on the upper level and move through advanced mixing lines to lower floors. The facility will also accommodate a 35-ton bridge crane, automated guided vehicle forklifts, and a mezzanine to support mixing and milling systems.

According to Opus, the project was originally envisioned as a structural steel facility. Opus proposed a precast concrete system instead, citing the building's substantial load demands and the potential for improved cost and schedule efficiency. Because structural components will be fabricated off-site, extensive coordination was required early in the design phase to align equipment layouts, material flow openings, and specialty systems within the building structure.

Design-Build Approach

"We won this project by demonstrating how our design-build approach could solve for Continental's complex manufacturing process and the building's structural requirements — and do so cost effectively and within an accelerated timeline," said Mike Anthony, director of project management at Opus. "We look forward to working with Continental as an extension of their worldwide design and management team to deliver a facility that exceeds their expectations and supports their long-term growth goals."

Opus is serving as the design-builder on the project. Martin Gardner Architects is the architect of record, and Raker Rhodes Engineering is the structural engineer of record. The project faces a critical early milestone later this fall, when a portion of the mixing facility must be ready to support the installation of specialized mixing equipment arriving from overseas. Full project completion is targeted for June 2027.

The development builds on Opus' portfolio of specialized industrial projects across North America, which the firm says has included work for BAE Systems, Spectro Alloys, Charter Communications, and Elgin Recycling.

Strategic Context

According to the announcement, the new compounding center is intended to optimize ContiTech's North American mixing footprint, with the Mount Pleasant location serving ContiTech's hose and belt businesses. The project represents an on-site expansion of Continental's existing Iowa campus.

Opus in Eastern Iowa

Opus, headquartered in Minneapolis, operates as a vertically integrated commercial real estate development, design, and construction firm with offices and projects across the country. The company's operating subsidiaries include Opus Development Company, Opus Design Build, and Opus AE Group. The firm specializes in industrial, multifamily, office, retail, and institutional projects.

The Continental project marks another step in what Opus describes as its growing presence in Eastern Iowa. The firm's design-build model — which integrates development, architecture, engineering, and construction under a single delivery structure — is positioned as a competitive differentiator for complex manufacturing environments where structural, mechanical, and process systems must be closely coordinated from early design stages.

Sources

Opus Group — Construction Begins on Continental Facility (May 21, 2026)