Reedsburg High School Fitness Center

RAHS received quite the Christmas present this year. The wrestling mats are on the second floor, the Reedsburg High School Beaver’s colors are on the walls, and the athletic equipment is in place. The Reedsburg High School Athletic Building is complete and ready for the students to use after they come back from Christmas break. This addition to the existing high school was started in June and completed in just 7 months. The fitness facility will provide roughly 5,000 square feet of space — about the size of a small gymnasium. The second floor is a multipurpose room of the same size that will be used for a variety of sports and uses, including wrestling practice, track practice and workout space for physical education classes.“ One of the huge driving forces behind it was to be able to expand our phys ed curriculum, to provide more facilities for health and wellness and strength and conditioning for our phys ed classes,” said Reedsburg Area High School Athletic Director Bryan Yager.

Springing Forward

If it can’t be spring yet, we can at least take a glimpse at what is coming down the pike for Spring 2021 Kraemer Brothers’ projects.

After a short period of being “on hold”, Kraemer Developments latest project for Woodland Crest will be making a debut in early spring. It will be a 30,000 sq. ft. mixed-use development with a Fast & Fresh convenience store, multi-tenant retail buildings and restaurant space, multi-family buildings, a senior living complex, and four single family lots. Weldcorp’s industrial building renovations in DeForest will also commence about that time as will the Wonewoc School renovations. Work will continue at the Promega campus into 2021 with the expansion of the Kepler Center, the on-going BTC renovations, the Noble Drive renovations and expansion and the RDC & RFC renovations. One project heading for completion in late spring is Promega CMC.

School District of Reedsburg

EDUCATION PORTFOLIO

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF REEDSBURG

Reedsburg, WI

Overview

ARCHITECT

Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP

Square Footage

108,000 (Prairie Ridge Intermediate)
16,500 (High School Addition)

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF REEDSBURG

New Intermediate School & High School Addition

Kraemer Brothers was honored to be chosen as the construction manager for a $30M referendum for the School District of Reedsburg in 2018. Kraemer Brothers was extensively involved in the pre-referendum planning. We attended community and school board meetings, which ensured all needs were captured early on in the pre-referendum planning process. The referendum included numerous safety and security upgrades to all existing District buildings and various other small scale projects, while $27M was used to construct the Prairie Ridge Intermediate School. This 108,000 square foot school features 30 classrooms – 10 on each pod/wing – that have their own color-coded design theme depicting the surrounding areas such as Agriculture, Sandstone Bluffs, Baraboo River, and Forest. There is also a central collaborative space on each pod and each pod contains its own color-coordinated restrooms and lockers. With this design, each grade can function individually or collaboratively as the need arises.

One of the unique features of this school is a folding glass curtain wall in the Library Media Center, which allows that space to openly adjoin to other spaces for maximum flexibility and use. The school includes a gym, a cafeteria with outdoor patio and tables, as well as modern music and art areas. A high-tech monitoring system and secure entrances with lock-down capabilities provide an elevated level of security for staff and students. Due to a highly collaborative approach with the architect, and our planning and management of the project, our final budget was $800,000 dollars below the GMP, a savings passed entirely to the district.

The latest project Kraemer Brothers was hired to complete for the School District of Reedsburg is the addition of a 16,500 square-foot fitness center and multi-purpose space. The first floor features the fitness center, lobby, mechanical room and restrooms, while the second floor includes the multi-purpose room and gathering space of the same size of the entire first floor. Used for a variety of sports, including wrestling practice, track practice, and workout space, both the fitness center and multi-purpose room will be available for the community to use. While athletic teams will use this new fitness facility, its main purpose is to expand the possibilities for physical education classes that will reach a wide array of students, athletes and non-athletes alike. Kraemer Brothers has appreciated a long-term relationship with the district and completed 10 projects since 1954 including the cafeteria & commons renovations in 2003, the addition to the CAL center in 2015, and the 2019 auditorium renovations.

Belmont School District

Westside Christian School

From the Client

As the final steps of Prairie Ridge Intermediate School was completed, Kraemer Brothers were just as diligent about what needed to be done to complete the project, so everyone was satisfied. The punch list they go through is very thorough and detailed. Like all the other phases of the project, I could not help but be impressed with the quality of communication there is with Kraemer Brothers. It is one thing to notify people of happenings, it is another to roll up your sleeves and have some real conversation, that is what we had!

Clint Beyer
Principal | Prairie Ridge Intermediate School

Crowne Plaza Transition to DoubleTree

The Crowne Plaza hotel on Washington Ave in Madison has a new look and a new name thanks to our Kraemer Brothers crew. The old Crowne Plaza was in desperate need of some upgrades and a face lift. KB crews updated the lobby area, entrance, rooms, corridors and gave the exterior a new and more modern look.

North Central Group purchased the building with the intent to transition it to a Hilton DoubleTree hotel. Our crews started demolition in March 2020 and the DoubleTree employees held their unveiling of the new renovations to the public on November 11, 2020.

The Long-Anticipated Completion of Promega R&D

Everyone has been anxiously awaiting the finalization of one of Kraemer Brother’s largest and most unique projects. Promega R&D will be completed by the end of this year and the Promega staff is chomping at the bit to start using their new facility. They created a walk-through video in November to familiarize their staff with the various rooms and utilization of some of the more unique spaces designed for R&D. Scientists are making the labs ready for equipment and landscaping is nearly complete. Some fun facts you may not know about this building are that it has been labeled the “most unique research facility in the world regarding design and sustainability features” as stated in Promega’s video. Included in that unique design are 1.9 miles of cable used on the “floating” walkway bridges (shown below) and the safety rails. This cable was used not just to provide safety but to also allow as much natural light to circulate through the building as possible. All of R&D’s sustainable construction adds up to 2M kilowatts of power, equivalent to, 1.6 billion pounds of coal, or 600,000 gallons of gas – enough to heat 250 single family homes. With its sustainable design, Promega can offset 1500 metric tons of CO2 and reduce their energy usage by 68%. So don’t think Promega R&D is just another pretty building; it emanates form and function.

Heritage Building Wraps up 2020

The glass and brick building with all the angles in Deforest right off the I-90/94 on-ramp on Hwy 19 is ready for action. Heritage employees started moving office essentials into their new office building the second week of December 2020. Computer technicians were hooking up equipment throughout the building, desks were being adorned with mouse pads, keyboards, and various personal paraphernalia used by employees to customize their new work spaces. There were even coffee pots in the break areas ready and waiting to hit the ground running for the first day of conducting business in the new building.

Connexus Credit Union

CORPORATE & OFFICE PORTFOLIO

Connexus Credit Union

DeForest, WI

Overview

ARCHITECT

Potter Lawson, Inc.

Square Footage

51,000

CONNEXUS CREDIT UNION

Corporate Headquarters

Formerly Heritage Credit Union’s corporate headquarters, this building boasts an awe-inspiring look. The contemporary design includes a stunning combination of architectural metal façade and glass, making this building very distinctive. Each floor steps outward from the floor below, forming a progressive cantilever effect as the building gets taller.

Interior spaces creatively promote employee collaboration, with offices, meeting rooms and workstations all using interior glass for strong visual connection, yet allowing for privacy and separation as needed. All spaces are very bright and vibrant and energy efficient glass curtain walls were used on the entire exterior to provide maximum natural light inside the building.

The HVAC system, lighting, controls and finishes were all selected for maximum energy efficiency. The aggressive schedule was achieved despite the pandemic and all its challenges which surfaced after construction had already begun. This allowed the owner to vacate their already-sold office building right on schedule. Heritage Credit Union has since merged with Connexus Credit Union and is now operating under the Connexus brand.

Wind River Payments

Fairway Independent Mortgage

From the Client

Our project was completed on time and on budget! That is quite an accomplishment considering the COVID-19 pandemic was in full swing while we were building. Using other contractors, only 2 of 12 previous construction projects have been on time and on budget. Kraemer Brothers is a well-run organization. We worked with the same team throughout the planning, budgeting, and construction process. They were effective communicators, responsive and professional. They were true partners throughout the process. They listened and went the extra mile to meet our needs. Kraemer Brothers was able to dissect the project and offer value engineering solutions to bring the cost down without significantly impacting the design. In closing, I recommend Kraemer Brothers without hesitation. My only regret is that we did not partner with them sooner.

Anita Rauch
CEO/PRESIDENT | Heritage Credit Union

Promega Corporation – Kornberg Center

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO

PROMEGA CORPORATION KORNBERG CENTER

Madison, WI

Overview

ARCHITECT

Ramlow/Stein Architecture + Interiors
SmithGroup

Square Footage

280,000

KORNBERG CENTER

Research & Development Facility

The highly anticipated completion of Promega’s newest 280,000 square foot research and development facility in Fitchburg became a reality in December of 2020. This rare three-story building is Promega’s largest yet, and has been labeled “the most unique research and development building in the world in regards to sustainability and functional design”. The building has countless uncommon features and elements, including the “floating” walkway bridges that seamlessly connect the four quadrants of the building on every floor. The building envelope is one of only a few of its kind found anywhere in the world, and designed to make the building extremely energy efficient. The “double wall” has an interior wall of storefront glass and an exterior wall of curtain wall and brick, separated by a three-foot air space. By absorbing and reusing naturally generated heat, employing radiant heat in the floor, and utilizing a geothermal well, R&D’s energy savings add up to 2M kilowatts of power, equivalent to 1.6 billion pounds of coal, or 600,000 gallons of gas – enough to heat 250 single family homes. With its sustainable design, Promega can offset 1500 metric tons of CO2 and reduce their energy usage by 65%, compared to similar research and development facilities. Other sustainable features include a rainwater collection system, estimated to save 1 million gallons of water annually, a green roof that reduces heating and cooling loads, extending roof life, and 672 photovoltaic solar panels, providing an abundance of electricity for the building. With research and development its core function, this facility allows Promega Corporation to remain a global leader in providing innovative solutions to academic, industry and government scientists.

2020 Daily Reporter Top Projects
2021 AGC Build Wisconsin
2021 ABC Projects of Distinction
2021 Focus on Energy New Construction Trade Ally
2022 AIA Wisconsin Honor Award
2023 SEFA High Honors Award for Sustainability

Promega Corporation – Chappelle Manufacturing Center

Labcorp (Formerly Covance)

From the Client

The Promega Kornberg Center was a highly complex facility involving suspended walkways, a double façade for energy efficiency and a control system that reduces the energy by 65% compared to similar laboratory type buildings. The Kraemer Brothers construction team was able to maintain exceptional communication to Promega throughout the project while enduring the COVID-19 pandemic. Their upfront discussions and flexibility show they are committed to being part of the Promega team and maintain a high quality of workmanship.

Eric Loucks
Director of Facilities | Promega Corporation

Belmont School District

EDUCATION PORTFOLIO

BELMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Belmont, WI

Overview

ARCHITECT

FEH Design

Square Footage

31,000 Renovation; 8,000 Addition; 100,000 Roof Repairs

BELMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Renovation/Expansion

With school still in session, work started on a multi-phase project in the spring of 2019 and finished in September of 2020. Heavily involved in the pre-referendum process, Kraemer Brothers attended numerous community and school board meetings to ensure all needs were captured in the new building projects. The project included new classrooms, renovations and reconfiguration of existing classrooms, secured entrances, upgrades to existing mechanical and technology systems, and site and building exterior improvements. Because of the extensive renovation, the addition project was constructed first. Once finished, we coordinated with the district to have students and staff occupy the classrooms located in the addition while we renovated the old classrooms. The end result was a completely remodeled middle school wing, upgraded and expanded elementary wing, upgraded Industrial Arts Center and Ag Shop spaces (STEAM spaces), a new energy efficient HVAC system, a new fire protection system, secure entrances, and a new roof for both the elementary and middle schools.

Mineral Point School District

Mill Creek Academy

Waterloo School District

EDUCATION PORTFOLIO

WATERLOO SCHOOL DISTRICT

Waterloo, WI

Overview

ARCHITECT

FEH Design

Square Footage

8,000 Renovation; 38,600 Addition

WATERLOO SCHOOL DISTRICT

Renovation/Expansion

Early in the pre-referendum process, Kraemer Brothers assisted in gathering ideas and needs of the school district through committee and board meetings and community design charettes. One of the most important components of the project was bringing the overall building up to code, which included new ADA compliant restrooms and locker rooms. This project also consisted of a new physical education area, community pool, and a 23,700 square foot gymnasium. Renovations included much-needed storage, community fitness center expansion, and an expansion of the student dining and commons areas. With an eye towards hosting larger events, the new gym allows for increased school and community use. With the school located near two hills, Kraemer Brothers addressed multiple issues including a redesign of the site for appropriate stormwater management and a new traffic and parking flow pattern. Even with all of the obstacles during this project, Kraemer Brothers was able to keep the school operational and safe for student’s and staff. HVAC upgrades, partial roof replacement, security upgrades, office renovations, a restroom addition at the elementary school, and partial window replacement were also part of this project. Go Pirates!

Mill Creek Academy

UW-Eau Claire W.R. Davies Student Center

OUR COMPANY

OUR APPROACHES

EDUCATION PORTFOLIO

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF REEDSBURG

Reedsburg, WI

Overview

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF REEDSBURG

From the Client

CORPORATE & OFFICE PORTFOLIO

Connexus Credit Union

DeForest, WI

Overview

CONNEXUS CREDIT UNION

From the Client

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO

PROMEGA CORPORATION KORNBERG CENTER

Madison, WI

Overview

KORNBERG CENTER

Research & Development Facility

From the Client

EDUCATION PORTFOLIO

BELMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT

Belmont, WI

Overview

BELMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT

EDUCATION PORTFOLIO

WATERLOO SCHOOL DISTRICT

Waterloo, WI

Overview

WATERLOO SCHOOL DISTRICT

COMPANY

Approaches

Services

Expertise