Project Spotlight: Potawatomi Carter Casino | Hotel

Potawatomi Carter Casino | Hotel Project Rise

Posted June 30, 2025 by Robert Boelter & filed under News, Commercial, Hospitality, Tribal.

Greenfire recently completed a two-part renovation project at Potawatomi Carter Casino | Hotel in Carter, WI. The scope included hotel room finish upgrades and a new smoking gaming area on the casino’s main floor.

The hotel renovation updated 39 guest rooms, including two specialty rock & roll-themed suites. These suites feature custom finishes, fireplace installations, and fenced-in patios with pergolas. The new finishes extended themes from the recently completed Rock & Brews restaurant within the casino, incorporating details such as guitar neck door pulls and rock-themed art from local artists.

The 6,000 SF smoking gaming area renovation added 86 slot machines, a new slot tech room, two offices, and lobby façade enhancements. A raised access floor system was installed to make updates and upgrades to the gaming area machines and technology simpler. The new area includes a pressurized vestibule and negative air draw system to manage smoke and maintain air quality in adjacent spaces. The entertainment system includes 10 TVs and music synced with the adjacent Rock & Brews multimedia.

Greenfire delivered both components of the project ahead of schedule and under budget. The team coordinated closely with subcontractors and casino staff to ensure minimal disruption to operations. Greenfire overcame material delays by sourcing products domestically and working with local artists to keep renovation efforts on track. A major win included reducing a 14-week sliding door lead time to just 2 weeks by identifying an alternate supplier. Additional cost savings were achieved by relocating chandeliers from Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee to Carter.

Greenfire’s proactive approach, coordination with the owner, and creative problem solving helped deliver a successful renovation that greatly improved guest experience for the Forest County Potawatomi Community’s Carter casino.

Door County Granary Hosts Photoshoot

Posted June 10, 2025 by Robert Boelter & filed under News, Commercial, Historic, Hospitality.

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!

Greenfire Projects Earn Mayor’s Design Awards

Posted May 19, 2025 by Robert Boelter & filed under News, Commercial, Hospitality, Multi-Family, Tribal.

The Milwaukee Mayor’s Design Awards recognize architectural design excellence throughout the City of Milwaukee. Two projects managed by Greenfire received these awards by adding value to their neighborhoods by renovating, restoring, constructing or enhancing their properties in a way that contributes to the character of their neighborhoods.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson hosted the 28th annual awards ceremony at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Architecture & Urban Planning.

Concordia 27 received an Urbanism Redefined Award – recognizing projects that “made extraordinary contributions that restores the City’s built environment and expands opportunities for employment, education and bolsters social connections.”

Located on Milwaukee’s Near West Side on the corner of 27th and Wells St, Concordia 27 is the transformation of a once vacant yet historic 79,250 SF building into a bustling community and wellness hub. In addition to 30 affordable apartment units, Concordia 27 provides community resources for local entrepreneurs, retail and café spaces, gathering and meeting spaces, as well as the home of other local organizations. The development’s first floor is home to Near West Side Partners offices, the Milwaukee Centers for Independence’s training center and meal prep kitchen, Fruition MKE’s coworking, makerspace and café, and SWIM (Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee) a non-profit resource and therapy center that addresses trauma and provides wellness services.

Project Team & Contributors
Wiegand Enterprises, Quorum Architects, Inc., Pierce Engineers, Preserve Design Studio, LLC, Near West Side Partners (NWSP)

Davidson Park received a Places & Spaces Award – awarded to projects that have “greatly contributed to the character of Milwaukee’s neighborhood and improved public infrastructure and community spaces for everyone to enjoy.”

This brand-new Park offers Milwaukee residents a vibrant and inclusive outdoor gathering space that blends cultural heritage with sustainable design in mind. The park includes the use of natural, waney-edge timbers and weathered steel. The park utilizes its bioretention systems, pervious pavers, and underground storage cistern to capture over 225,000 gallons of stormwater during large rain events. 120 native plant species, including 20 species of trees and 100 species of perennials were planted. With green lawns, a serenity garden designed in collaboration with the Forest County Potawatomi Community, and a central amphitheater at “The Hub,” this new space park invites families, neighbors, and visitors to connect.

Project Team & Contributors

The Harley-Davidson Foundation, Heatherwick Studio / HGA, Near West Side Partners, The Forest County Potawatomi Community

Congratulations to our project partners who trusted us to manage these innovative construction projects that help improve Milwaukee’s urban spaces!

Daily Reporter Recognizes Greenfire Projects

Posted May 8, 2025 by Robert Boelter & filed under News, Commercial, Historic, Hospitality, Multi-Family.

Four Greenfire projects were recognized as a Top Project of 2024 by The Daily Reporter, which honors 40 of the top development projects across Wisconsin.

The following projects received awards:

Davidson Park | Milwaukee, WI

This project was conceptualized during the pandemic to redevelop an otherwise unused corporate parking lot. In order to re-establish their commitment to the community, the Harley-Davidson Foundation decided to turn the underutilized area into a community space. This includes a park and green space, drivable paths for motorcycles, a central stage area for performances and a multitude of native plantings. The circular format reflects back to the product this innovative company produces and aims to gather people together in a central location. The project is built utilizing locally sourced materials such as brick, natural timber and weathered steel. Davidson Park acts as a civic green gathering space available and accessible to all in the neighboring community.

Project Team & Contributors

The Harley-Davidson Foundation, Heatherwick Studio, HGA, Near West Side Partners, The Forest County Potawatomi Community

Potawatomi Casino | Hotel Sportsbook | Milwaukee, WI

The space formerly occupied by the Northern Lights Theatre on Potawatomi Casino | Hotel’s first floor has been transformed into one of the nation’s most impressive sportsbooks. Gilbane | Greenfire managed the renovation project to create a premier sports experience for the Casino. Most noticeably of the sportsbook’s new features is a nearly 2,000 SF screen that spans the entire sportsbook – large enough to view 30 sporting events simultaneously. The space features a stadium-style upper-level VIP seating area, as well as a broadcast booth available for podcasts and live media. In addition to the sportsbook, scope of this project included the renovation and reopening of an adjacent brand new 14-table poker room. The sportsbook features a first-class bar, as well as a brand-new full-service kitchen serving food for sportsbook guests, as the entire sportsbook space can host up to 200 sports fans.

Project Team & Contributors

Potawatomi Casino | Hotel, Gilbane | Greenfire, I-5 Design, The Forest County Potawatomi Communty

Tivoli Green Apartments Phase II | Mount Pleasant, WI

Greenfire managed the construction of the second phase of construction at the Tivoli Green development in Mount Pleasant, which was the first multi-family development in 20 years in Racine County. The first phase provided much needed housing and density, and the second phase provided even more – with a focus on adding townhome-style apartments based on resident feedback and market demand. Phase II’s apartment buildings and townhomes include private side-by-side two-car attached garages. This phase added nine buildings and a maintenance garage, with units that are fitted with high-end furnishings, and outside features manicured landscaping.

Project Team & Contributors

Wangard Partners, JLA Architects, Spire Engineering, raSmith

Wisconsin Farmers Union | Chippewa Falls, WI

This historic renovation and reimagination of the 1916 Chippewa Falls Mercantile building along the shores of the Chippewa River has transformed into Market On River – a venue meant to be a driver of commerce and community in downtown Chippewa Falls. Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU) acquired the 45,000-square-foot building on River and Island streets and now calls the brick building on the riverfront their new home and state headquarters. Market On River features retail spaces, a food hall, community events space and residential apartments. As a member-driven organization, WFU is leasing space to like-minded partners who want to collaborate and see local and independent farmers, entrepreneurs, and businesses thrive.

Project Team & Contributors

Wisconsin Farmers Union, Studio EA, A.M. Structural Engineering, Tweet Garot, B&B Electric

Greenfire represented alongside our project partners at the award ceremony held in the new Baird Center expansion in Milwaukee.

Greenfire at Real Estate Awards

Posted April 17, 2025 by Robert Boelter & filed under News, Commercial, Hospitality, Tribal.

Four Greenfire projects were nominated for a Milwaukee Business Journal (MBJ) 2024 Real Estate awards, which honors the top real estate projects in Southeast Wisconsin.

The MBJ hosted the award ceremony at the incredible new Baird Center expansion, which won the Project Of the Year.

Davidson Park walked away with an award win in the Culture / Tourism / Entertainment category, and members of the project team were on hand to receive the award.

The following Greenfire construction projects were nominated by the MBJ as significant real estate developments that were completed in 2024:

Concordia 27 – Milwaukee, WI

Located on Milwaukee’s Near West Side on the corner of 27th and Wells St, Concordia 27 is the transformation of a once vacant yet historic building into a bustling community and wellness hub. In addition to 30 affordable apartment units, Concordia 27 provides community resources for local entrepreneurs, retail and café spaces, gathering and meeting spaces, as well as the home of other local organizations. The development’s first floor is home to NWSP’s offices, the Milwaukee Centers for Independence’s training center and 12,000 SF state-of-the-art meal prep kitchen, Fruition MKE’s coworking, makerspace and café, and SWIM (Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee) a non-profit resource and therapy center that addresses trauma and provides wellness services.

Project Team & Contributors

Wiegand Enterprises, Quorum Architects, Near West Side Partners, Milwaukee Centers for Independence

Davidson Park – Milwaukee, WI

During the pandemic, a Fortune 500 company instituted a work-from-home policy that left a large parking lot unused. In order to re-establish their commitment to the community, the company decided to turn the underutilized area into a community space. This will include a park, drivable paths, a central stage area for performances and a multitude of plantings. The circular format reflects back to the product this innovative company produces and aims to gather people together in a central location. The project will be built utilizing locally sourced materials such as brick, natural timber and weathered steel. Davidson Park will act as a civic green gathering space available and accessible to all including employees, neighbors and the community. Who said you can’t un-pave a parking lot and put up paradise?

Project Team & Contributors

The Harley-Davidson Foundation, Heatherwick Studio / HGA, Near West Side Partners, The Forest County Potawatomi Community

Olympia Fields – Locklyn Apartments – Oconomowoc, WI

Olympia Fields is a revitalized 65-acre site located on the grounds of the former Olympia Resort. Included in the development is the Locklyn Apartments, a multi-phased project that included site grading, construction of access roads and a clubhouse, along with seven Class-A multi-family town homes. Greenfire was brought on early as part of the development team to assist with master planning for present and future development, building layout, and sequencing. Construction for each building took nine weeks with turnover for subsequent buildings six weeks after. The first phase also included the construction of a retaining wall along the northern edge of the pond to level the site and allow for building construction closer to the body of water.

Project Team & Contributors

Wangard Partners, JLA Architects, Kahler Slater, raSmith

Potawatomi Casino | Hotel Sportsbook – Milwaukee, WI

The space formerly occupied by the Northern Lights Theatre on Potawatomi Casino | Hotel’s first floor has been transformed into one of the nation’s most impressive sportsbooks. In a joint venture with Gilbane, Greenfire managed the renovation project to create a premier sports experience for the Casino. Most noticeably of the sportsbook’s new features is a nearly 2,000 SF screen that spans the entire sportsbook – large enough to view 30 sporting events simultaneously. The space features an stadium-style upper-level VIP seating area, as well as a broadcast booth available for podcasts and live media. In addition to the sportsbook, scope of this project included the renovation and reopening of an adjacent brand new 14-table poker room. The sportsbook features a first-class bar, as well as a brand-new full-service kitchen serving delicious food for sportsbook guests, as the entire sportsbook space can host up to 200 sports fans.

Project Team & Contributors

Gilbane | Greenfire, I-5 Design, The Forest County Potawatomi Community

Granary Hosted an AIA Wisconsin Event

Posted October 10, 2024 by Robert Boelter & filed under News, Historic, Hospitality.

One of Greenfire’s most unique projects – The Door County Granary and The Sturgeon Bay Historical Society hosted an AIA Wisconsin Event – as part of ARCHtober, a month-long celebration of architecture in Wisconsin.

Greenfire was the construction managers for the first and second phases of the historic preservation of the historic grain elevator. As this phase nears completion, the project team collaborated with to hold a unique forum.

“Vernacular Transformed: Reoccupying Agro-Infrastructure” offered guests insight into the history of the original 1901 Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator, as well as the efforts from the team to preserve and reimagine one of two of the last remaining grain elevators along the shores of the Great Lakes.

The collaborative and communal process to adapt the structure into civic use was on display – as Nicole Matson, James Dallman with LA DALLMAN, Sturgeon Bay Native Jeffrey A. Beane, PE, SE of Beane Engineering, Chris Rute, AIA, RIBA of CR Design and Greenfire’s Nathan Brown offered insights into goals, challenges and successes of the project and a glimpse into the Granary’s future. Michael Telzrow, executive director of the Door County Granary, also spoke about the space, which will be open to the public for future events. The panel also offered insight into the Granary’s planned next phase of construction – which plans to expand the public space upwards into the heart of the structure.

Over 50 people attended the event including architects, community members, donors and architectural students.

Greenfire collaborated with Door County Granary, Sturgeon Bay Historical Society, and AIA Wisconsin to host the panel discussion and tour of the unique public space on a picturesque evening along the shores of Sturgeon Bay’s waterfront. Greenfire is proud of our construction efforts on the historic Granary and look forward to the next chapter of the Granary’s reimagination and repurpose for years to come.

Carter Rock & Brews Opening

Posted July 2, 2024 by Robert Boelter & filed under News, Hospitality.

Greenfire celebrated a major milestone in the Potawatomi Carter Casino | Hotel’s ongoing renovations: the Carter Rock & Brews Opening.

Lead by Greenfire’s project team of John Chinault Mark McCloskey, Devin Proctor and Brandon Lehrer, the addition of Rock & Brews to the Casino’s first floor was a huge success, opening two months ahead of schedule at the Forest County Potawatomi ’s Northwoods venue in Wabeno, WI.

Through Greenfire’s extensive hospitality construction experience, great emphasis was placed on working with the facilities’ operations team to mitigate disruption to the guests, which is especially challenging on a site that is occupied by staff and guests 24 / 7.

The new restaurant space is over 3,000 SF and will have room for over 120 patrons. The bar and restaurant’s iconic rock-themed décor impresses, including vinyl records inlayed into the floor. A brand-new live music stage was constructed and will feature bands on Fridays and Saturdays.

The grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by all project stakeholders and members of the Greenfire team, as well as the rock legend Gene Simmons himself. All attendees enjoyed the offerings of Rock & Brews and check out the unique features. Greenfire is proud of our efforts for the latest Rock & Brews location and looks to parlay the success of this phase of the Carter Casino | Hotel’s renovations into the next phases of construction, all in their pursuit of being a premier entertainment destination in Northern Wisconsin.

Potawatomi Sportsbook Grand Opening

Posted May 4, 2024 by Robert Boelter & filed under News, Hospitality.

As renovations at Potawatomi Casino | Hotel in Milwaukee roll on, the next exciting addition to the Casino is now open: The brand-new, state-of-the-art sportsbook. Formerly in the space of the Northern Lights theatre, Gilbane | Greenfire completed the transformation of the space into one of the nation’s most impressive sportsbooks. As is the case with previous renovations, Greenfire took great pride in being able to complete the construction on-time, with minimal disruption to the 24/7 operating Casino and its guests. The new space’s most impressive feature is the nearly 2,000 SF screen that spans the entire sportsbook, enough to view over 30 sporting events simultaneously. Up to 200 guests will have no issue finding a good seat to watch their favorite sporting event. An even better view is offered from the upper VIP level, which is adjacent to the broadcast booth available for podcasts and other media use, including 94.5 ESPN Milwaukee, who was broadcasting live during the Grand Opening event. The new sportsbook space also features a first-class bar and “The Kitchen”, offering classic pub fare and other tasty treats. With the Grand Opening of the sportsbook, the Casino also welcomed back Poker with a brand new 14-table Poker Room, adjacent to the new sportsbook. The Potawatomi sportsbook grand opening event kicked off proper fanfare, as members of Team Greenfire, Gilbane, tribal members, media members and other guests got to soak in the new space, as well as enjoy delicious food samples offered by The Kitchen. The event commenced with a ceremonial drum circle, followed by Forest County Potawatomi Community Chairman James Crawford welcoming guests and shared his excitement for what the Sportsbook means to the tribe, the city and region. Potawatomi Casino | Hotel CEO Dominic Ortiz shared the same sentiment and claimed the “Nation’s No.1 state-of-the-art sportsbook” officially open.

November 2023 Project Spotlight | Potawatomi Casino | Hotel

Posted October 30, 2023 by Simmi Urbanek & filed under News, Hospitality, Tribal.

Dynamic light fixtures, video screens, dining options including a real food truck…these are just some of the upgrades the Potawatomi Casino | Hotel (PCH) are making to attract and retain visitors. The new upgrades to PCH include new finishes, additional gaming machines and tables and new amenity spaces. There is a new gift shop, coffee shop, VIP lounge – Club 1833, and additional bars. The new food venues includes a Rock N’ Brews – rock n’ roll themed restaurant and bar, Street Eatz – a food court complete with a food truck, and Cream City Coffee Co. These new spaces are on the second level of the casino and represent the conclusion of the first phase of the renovations. Still to come is the Potawatomi Sportsbook, which is slated to be open in 2024.

Through a joint venture with Gilbane, Greenfire Management Services provided construction management throughout the renovation. We coordinated the subcontractors, participated in OAC meetings and provided on-site solutions when challenges arose. Through open communication and collaboration, we successfully completed this complicated interior renovation while the casino and hotel were operational. One example of how we kept the disturbance low was to deliver all of the materials and supplies through a side area as to not disrupt the freight elevators that the staff uses. We also installed temporary walls to keep the dust and noise mitigated and away from the guest areas. Careful staging, phasing and planning all contributed to a minimally disruptive construction period.

Wisconsin Farmers Union begins Catalytic Project on the River

Posted September 26, 2023 by Simmi Urbanek & filed under News, Commercial, Historic, Hospitality, Multi-Family, Office.

Market on River will be the “It” place in Chippewa Falls in 2024. The historic renovation in downtown Chippewa Falls will be a catalytic project and attract small businesses and visitors alike. The 45,000 square foot, mixed-use building will have a food hall on the first floor with several spaces for entrepreneurs and small businesses to operate. The second floor will be the headquarters for the Wisconsin Farmers Union and have gathering and event spaces. The third floor will have apartments.

On September 26, 2023, the Wisconsin Farmers Union held a community open house and brick signing celebration to mark the beginning of construction for the historic renovation project.

This project marks an important milestone in the story of the Wisconsin Farmers Union as they look to preserve the past while thinking towards the future. The building was constructed in 1916 after a fire destroyed the previous structure. It was home to the Chippewa Valley Mercantile Company. The restoration will be thoughtful and careful to embrace the past of this building and be a catalyst for future economic growth in the area.

The living spaces are coined as Social Living and will provide great views, access to local businesses and opportunities for engagement. There is a bike path nearby and a park across the street, making this a desirable destination for anyone from young professionals to families. The Market on River will be a valuable asset to Chippewa Falls and beyond.