Designed for connection and growth, the 14,500 square foot space transforms the Henricksen experience in Wisconsin
Henricksen, a leading national contract furniture dealer, is pleased to announce the opening of its new Milwaukee experience center at 507 S. 2nd Street, Suite 400, in the city’s Walker’s Point Neighborhood. The 14,500-square-foot space occupies the historic Eagleknit building, built in 1928 to house one of Milwaukee’s largest manufacturers of winter hats, transforming a piece of the city’s industrial heritage into a human-centered workplace that reflects Henricksen’s growing presence in Wisconsin.
This move positions Henricksen at the heart of Milwaukee’s design, architecture, and real estate communities, creating a space where teams, clients, and partners feel comfortable, connected, and inspired to collaborate. The new space elevates the company’s ability to showcase its capabilities and product offerings across the full range of industries it serves, including office, healthcare, education, government, senior living, and hospitality.
“We’ve always believed that the best way to show clients and partners what’s possible is to let them experience it firsthand,” said Chris Knoeppel, Chief Growth Officer at Henricksen. “This move is a reflection of everything we stand for — the depth of our expertise, the quality of our partnerships, our commitment to the region, and our dedication to creating environments where people and organizations can truly thrive.”
Designed in collaboration with Kahler Slater, a multidisciplinary design firm, the new space embodies an intentional journey through Henricksen’s story and client engagement approach. With each detail considered and selected with clients and partners in mind, the experience begins in a hospitality-driven work café in the building’s contemporary core, before moving into a connected historic wing featuring original hardwood floors, concrete columns, and Cream City brick. A thoughtfully sequenced floor plan tells the company’s story at every turn with a design lab, studio workspaces, and a working experience center, showcasing the thinking, craft, and expertise that define Henricksen. Technology-enabled displays throughout spark organic conversation and guide clients through the possibilities at every step. A sun-drenched inner courtyard with live trees, picnic tables, and sweeping views of Lake Michigan offers a natural gathering place for employees and guests alike, resulting in a workplace that fosters a genuine sense of belonging, builds trust, and leaves visitors with a clear sense of the Henricksen brand.
Equally designed with the Henricksen team in mind, the new Milwaukee experience center offers a thoughtful mix of collaborative settings, heads-down workstations, and private spaces for focused work. Private offices and conference rooms are intentionally located in the building’s interior core, ensuring that all 25 Milwaukee-based employees have equal access to natural light and the panoramic views that define the space.
Bringing Henricksen’s vision to life required navigating the building’s century of history with equal parts care and creativity. A four-month collaboration with the local historical society aided the team in opening up a passage connecting the building’s two distinct structures and restoring a long-covered skylight to enhance access to daylight. Original steel pipes, exposed beams, and weathered architectural details purposefully honor rather than obscure the Eagleknit building’s industrial character.
“This new space is a testament to the team we’ve built and the relationships we’ve cultivated across Wisconsin,” added Emily Hurd, General Manager for Wisconsin. “It sets the stage for everything we’re looking to accomplish in the region as we continue to grow our local footprint.”
The new Milwaukee experience center marks a new chapter for Henricksen in Wisconsin, rooted in the city’s history and oriented toward the future of work. A grand opening event is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
About Henricksen
Henricksen is a full-service dealer of contract furniture and architectural walls, serving office, healthcare, education, government, senior living, and hospitality environments. Since 1962, Henricksen has been committed to providing best-in-class, full-service contract furniture and architectural solutions. Today, Henricksen is a leading national dealer with 13 offices, over 350 full-time employees and annual sales topping $375 million. With 400+ manufacturer partnerships, Henricksen offers various products, from systems furniture, case goods, seating, lounge, and conference furnishings to architectural solutions, including modular walls, flooring, lighting, sound masking, and technology equipment. Henricksen is a long-standing strategic dealer partner of HNI. HNI’s furniture portfolio includes Allsteel, Gunlocke, Hon, Kimball International, HBF, Steelcase and Design Public Group. www.henricksen.com