Waukegan Steel, the near century-old structural fabricator long rooted in Waukegan, Illinois, is gearing up to shift its manufacturing base to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The company is eyeing a large shop in LakeView Corporate Park, planning to move core fabrication work across the state line. If the deal goes through, the relocation would drop the firm into one of southeastern Wisconsin’s biggest industrial clusters along the I-94 corridor.
According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, Waukegan Steel plans to lease about 118,500 square feet at 8500 116th Street in LakeView Corporate Park. The story, published June 12, 2026, reports that the space would be configured for manufacturing and related shop operations. The report did not spell out a timeline for the move or clarify whether the company’s full workforce would relocate.
Founded in 1929, Waukegan Steel has built a regional reputation as an AISC-certified structural fabricator with projects across the Chicago area. The company’s website cites an 85,000-square-foot production facility in Waukegan and highlights work on local landmarks, as per Waukegan Steel.
LakeView Corporate Park and the I-94 Corridor
LakeView Corporate Park touts large, modern industrial buildings and direct access to I-94, positioning tenants to serve both the Chicago and Milwaukee markets, according to Zilber Property Group. Property listings for 8500 116th Street describe the building’s modern features and divisible floor plates, as reflected on the LoopNet listing. LoopNet lists clear height, parking, and overall building-size details for the address.
Jobs and Local Impact
Waukegan Steel’s LinkedIn page and recent job posts list Pleasant Prairie as a work location, suggesting the company is already recruiting for roles tied to the site. As the Milwaukee Business Journal noted, the lease would add shop capacity in Kenosha County while keeping the company well positioned to serve the Chicago market. Local officials and brokers have said LakeView’s scale and transportation links make it an attractive landing spot for manufacturers that are moving or expanding in the region.
The proposed lease still needs to be finalized and would likely require municipal filings along with any interior build-out before fabrication begins. For now, the cross-border move remains a pending power play, with timing and full job impacts yet to be confirmed in public documents or company statements.
