In a three-project referendum, part of the school’s goal was to expand career pathways at the high school. Recognizing the need to revamp their STEAM Education, 13,200 square feet of space was remodeled and renovated, including agricultural science, career and technical education, art, and family & consumer education. 2,500 square feet were added to the wood shop, creating space for metal fabrication and additional workspace. Designed with operational safety in mind, the connecting addition helps instructors oversee both rooms easily. The remodeling portion of the project was up against a tight deadline. Despite school finishing the second week of June, Kraemer Brothers delivered the project in less than three months, making sure it was ready for the upcoming school year.

The 57,500 square foot expansion to the elementary school adds a new level of creativity and a joyful learning environment for students. Leading up to the secure entryways, the Glarner Knight logo is mounted on top of the canopy. The cafeteria, surrounded by a glass curtainwall, is set adjacent to the new kitchen and administrative offices. A new two-station gymnasium accommodates over 500 occupants and utilizes a multi-projection interactive Lu System to engage kids physically, intellectually, and socially. Each grade, from 4K to 2nd, has its own collaboration space with flexible furniture, open cubbies, and sensory zones that encourage interaction and small group learning opportunities. The unique design of the school allows each classroom to feature and exterior window with impact-resistant glass, shared storage space, and surrounds the inclusive playground which blocks off traffic from the road. When the addition wrapped up, Kraemer Brothers crews started renovating the existing cafeteria into a library.

Breaking ground in the fall of 2023, we managed the aggressive 9-month schedule, constructing an athletic complex, which finished in time for New Glarus’s first football game.

In conjunction with architect FEH Design, Kraemer Brothers started Royall School District’s referendum planning in 2020. After passing a successful referendum, we fast-tracked this project to have utilities installed and the site prepped for construction. Royall focused on three goals in the facility’s design: create a safe and secure learning environment for students and staff; provide space to support physical education and athletic programs; and improve instruction space for agriculture education. We exceeded all three goals with this design. Connecting the elementary school to the middle/high school, a new centralized secure entrance was created, keeping all district offices and the school nurse in one building. The new 2-station fieldhouse accommodates over 900 people and is adorned with conference banners, championship accolades, and acoustical panels. The new dedicated agriculture education room includes storage space and is located near other spaces that support this discipline. To add a modern touch to the facility, a curved canopy welcomes visitors to the school, while translucent clerestory windows provide natural lighting into the gymnasium. Kraemer Brothers successfully managed the aggressive 14-month schedule and handed over the school a month ahead of schedule. Go Panthers!

Mill Creek Academy, a tuition-free public charter school, is the first school built by National Heritage Academies in Wisconsin and the 101st developed by this nationwide organization. The building’s footprint is in the shape of an “H,” allowing natural light into each classroom. Hosting grades 4K through 8, this school features over 30 classrooms, student support areas, administrative spaces, and a large gymnasium in the middle. The classroom design supports Mill Creek Academy’s goal of small group instruction, independent learning practices, and one-on-one teaching. Lap siding accented by stone masonry creates the exterior façade, while cedar trusses and beams provide an inviting entrance to the school. Based on the traditional congestion associated with student drop-off and pick-up, Mill Creek Academy took an innovative approach by implementing multiple drop-off lanes and safe exchange areas, enabling staff to welcome students and parents during busy times. The water table was extremely high on the undeveloped land, so we constructed four bio-retention ponds to overcome this obstacle. As a nationwide charter school organization, we were thrilled to hear this was one of their best building experiences over the past 28 years!