Wisconsin State Fair Park officials welcomed guests for a Partner Preview of the newly renovated Dairy Building, formerly known as the Original Cream Puff Pavilion. The event offered an early look at the upgraded space ahead of its return to service as the cream puff production hub during the 174th Wisconsin State Fair.

Originally constructed in 1909, the building was first used to promote Wisconsin’s dairy production and agriculture to Fairgoers. Over time, its role evolved into the home of the cream puff—now one of the Fair’s most famous offerings.

Greenfire led construction services for the project, with American Design, Inc. serving as the architect. Engineering was provided by GRAEF, Pierce Engineers, and Ring & DuChateau. The team worked together to renovate and expand the structure while maintaining its original character. New features highlighted during the event included reopened historic windows, improved interior circulation, ADA-compliant restrooms, and a new exterior serving window on the north side. A large pedestrian door on the southeast side improves interior-exterior flow, allowing better connection to outdoor Fair traffic. Large interior viewing windows now allow guests to see each stage of cream puff production from preparation to service.

The Partner Preview event brought together project partners, vendors, and community stakeholders to tour the facility and experience the updates firsthand. Attendees sampled food from local vendors, previewed upcoming State Fair merchandise, and, of course, enjoyed cream puffs. The event featured local media that was able to get impressions from project stakeholders like Shari Black, Wisconsin State Fair Park chief executive officer. She reiterated the excitement around the project and how the new facility highlights, preserves and advances the Wisconsin dairy and agricultural industry. The new facility that preserves historic features with newly added upgrades that will improve production efficiency and visitor flow.

New vintage-style artwork and decor were added throughout the space to pay homage to Wisconsin’s dairy industry, tying the building’s original purpose to its current function.

The newly updated areas will soon support the production and sale of nearly 400,000 cream puffs during the Fair. The modernized infrastructure also opens the building to off-season events and programming, giving the space a new year-round role at State Fair Park.

Learn more about this exciting project here!

The Door County Granary, a 2,285 SF historic structure restored by Greenfire, recently served as the site of an architectural photo shoot. Photographers Kevin Miyazaki and Mike Roemer captured the building’s unique textures, materials, and waterfront setting. Architect James Dallman of LA DALLMAN, who designed the adaptive reuse of the building, directed the shoot and met with visitors to share background on the Granary’s transformation and future use. The engineering of the building’s renovation was done by Beane Engineering, whose founder Jeffrey Beane is a Sturgeon Bay Native.

Located along the Sturgeon Bay waterfront, the Granary is one of the last remaining grain elevators on the Great Lakes. Built in 1901 and saved from demolition by the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation (SBHS), the Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator has been preserved and repurposed into a seasonal public gathering space as part of the city’s larger waterfront redevelopment efforts.

Greenfire managed the construction in two phases. The first phase involved relocating the structure and installing new foundations. The second phase included restoring both the exterior and interior, building a catering kitchen and restrooms, and completing landscaping and site improvements. The project incorporated salvaged materials, including 100-year-old reclaimed siding from a dismantled granary in Superior, WI, to maintain a historic aesthetic and keep a unique façade.

Mike Roemer’s drone photography captured these exterior finishes from the sky, while Kevin Miyazaka’s interior photography snapped the original timber construction that has been activated into a destination interior / exterior event space, now complete with modern amenities.

These modern improvements were made without compromising the building’s original character. Greenfire installed an in-floor heating system to serve the unconditioned event space. Also integrated into the floor is unique upwards lighting that accentuates the wooden character at night. Greenfire’s cost savings during buyout allowed for upgrades, including an expanded outdoor patio to better serve events held in the space.

With the space now active, the Granary has become a public venue and historic marker of Sturgeon Bay’s agricultural heritage. The SBHS are currently fundraising to expand public access to upper levels of the structure.

Visitors can learn more about the Granary and the SBHS Foundation’s further activation efforts here, or by visiting the site in-person in Sturgeon Bay, WI – which we highly recommend!