NAI Hiffman has recently completed a series of large industrial transactions in Elgin, Illinois, underscoring the continued momentum along the I-90 corridor northwest of Chicago. Over a two-month period, the firm closed four industrial deals totaling 996,228 square feet, all within the Elgin market.
Executive vice presidents Steve Bass and Jack Brennan of NAI Hiffman represented both ownership groups and occupiers across the transactions. While specific parties and deal structures were not disclosed, the assignment mix indicates activity on both the landlord and user sides of the market, with the brokers supporting a range of industrial requirements.
Three of the four transactions each surpassed 245,000 square feet, reflecting ongoing interest in large-format industrial assets. The scale of these deals highlights sustained demand for modern distribution and manufacturing facilities in Chicago’s northwest suburban industrial corridor, where occupiers are increasingly focused on operational efficiency, building functionality and long-term performance.
Market data cited alongside the announcement points to a broader leasing trend in the I-90 Northwest submarket. Since 2025, nearly 2 million square feet of new leasing activity has been recorded in the area. Approximately 65% of that volume has come from companies relocating from other Chicago-area industrial submarkets, including O’Hare, Central DuPage and Northwest Cook County, suggesting a notable shift in occupier preferences within the regional industrial landscape.
Bass noted that activity has accelerated both in Elgin and along the wider I-90 corridor as industrial users seek efficiency, scalability and long-term operational advantages. He pointed to a range of occupier types fueling demand, including large-scale distribution users, manufacturing firms and groups with an ownership orientation, all drawn by the submarket’s combination of contemporary facilities, access to labor and regional connectivity.
The Elgin and I-90 Northwest corridor continues to position itself as a competitive alternative to more established Chicago industrial submarkets. The recent run of large transactions and incoming relocations underscores the submarket’s appeal to users evaluating space decisions across the metro’s industrial landscape.
Separately, Connect Industrial West is scheduled for August 20 in Irvine, California, bringing together industrial owners, investors, developers, lenders, brokers and occupiers focused on markets across the Western United States. The event is expected to feature market insights, transaction-focused discussions and networking opportunities for industrial decision-makers.
