The second annual Urban Spaceship conference will focus on the future of cities in a post-pandemic world.
And while the pandemic is still ongoing, conference hosts NEWaukee and NAIOP Wisconsin are looking to the future. The in-person event will take place November 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at No Studios, 1037 W. McKinley Ave., in The Brewery District.
STURGEON BAY (WLUK) — The Sturgeon Bay Historical Society broke ground Friday for the final resting spot for the Door County Granary.
It’s located in its original spot on the city’s west side.
The granary had been across the bay for the last several years until the city helped approve a project to enhance the waterfront by the granary’s original location.
After four years, two moves and many twists and turns, the Door County Granary project is underway.
A groundbreaking ceremony held Friday at the 92 E. Maple St. site signaled the start of the first phase of construction. Pilings will be driven, the foundation poured and then the structure jacked up and moved about 50 feet to its final base. Other work during this phase includes a new exterior skin, and for the top, translucent panels. A grand opening of this first phase will be held by June 1, 2022, said Christie Weber, president of the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation.
It was a day of exploration, communication, and information at the 2021 Urban Spaceship Conference. We had the privilege to partner with NEWaukee and NAIOP Wisconsin to present this progressive and developmental conference for a second consecutive year. This year was exceptionally gratifying as we hosted at one of our cornerstone projects, No Studios. The conference was an in-person event and drew more than 250 attendees from all professional backgrounds across the region. Greenfire also presented the morning keynote panel: Live, Work, Play – The Urban Way. Panelists included Tom Mortensen, raSmith; Que El-Amin, Scott Crawford, Inc; Nick O’Brien, WorkAround; Naveen Lalit Kankate, The Citrus Life.
Thank you to all of the informative breakout participants, those who attended, No Studios for the generous hospitality, and our forward-thinking panelists who kicked off the conference. We are already looking forward to next year!
Earlier this month we celebrated the ribbon cutting of Fat’s Triangle at 35th and State. This project is a mere two blocks away from the Greenfire Headquarters in Milwaukee, and thus plays a special role in our portfolio. The project included the reconfiguration and beautification of a dangerous median on a high traffic urban street. The project tied-in new electrical systems for traffic lighting and incorporated community involvement to design and decorate pillars representative of the surround community.
Our commitment to community and proactive corporate citizenship is not a one off. These principles are the foundation of our values and guide us whether in the field or behind a desk, with our clients or in the surrounding neighborhood. It is especially gratifying when we accomplish this goal with resident organizations like the Near West Side Partners and Quorum Architects. This is the Greenfire Way.
This was our fourth straight year hosting a book drive to collect new and gently used books for Next Door Foundation – Milwaukee’s Books for Kids program. We are proud to present our best collection yet, at 675 books. These valuable donations will go to Next Door Foundation children to help them build their home libraries. With community as one of our core values and guiding principles, we are fortunate to have partnerships with similarly focused organizations like Next Door Foundation.
On November 19th, the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation hosted a groundbreaking to commemorate the start of a one-of-a-kind project. The Door County Granary is the last standing grain elevator of its kind and is on the National Register of Historic Places for the role it played in agricultural shipping and is believed to be the last structure of its kind still standing on the Great Lakes. Greenfire was selected by the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society as the construction manager to bring this historic building back to life. The project includes restoration of the 1901 Teweles & Brandies grain elevator into a museum, cultural center, and event venue. The upper level will have 360-degree views overlooking Sturgeon Bay and beyond. Over 100 people attended the groundbreaking and eagerly anticipating the grand opening next year.
The project team includes LaDallman Architects and Brett Christofferson, Project Manager, and Chad Greuel, Superintendent.
Nestled in the 5,000-acre Forest County Potawatomi Reservation, the Community Center is a central hub for cultural education, recreation, athletic training, competition, wellness, and social events. The entire design of the building was informed by the Forest County Potawatomi culture, from the two levels that follow the natural grade and lessen the impact on the land to the basic floorplan which takes its inspiration from the form of an eagle in flight.
The Potawatomi Tribal Council recognized a need to have a singular place to promote unity and togetherness for its tribal members while simultaneously offering cultural education, athletic training, recreation and competitive activities, wellness development, and social events. The Vision of the Community Center is to fill that void and create an environment where all people can grow in a holistic way.
“The Center will be a place where families can spend an entire day with countless options to fulfill each of their passions,” said Thomas Boelter, Division Director of Education and Culture for the Forest County Potawatomi. “The members will feel at home while guests can learn about the Forest County Potawatomi people. In its completion, the Center will provide a large space where wellness can begin take place. We considered every individual, from infants to elders, in the development of this project making it a place for all to grow healthy together.”
Situated on the Forest County Potawatomi Reservation, the design flows with the natural grade of the terrain to lessen the impact on the land. Further drawing inspiration from nature, the construction footprint mimics the form of an eagle in flight.
“The design brings forth an inherent bloom of culture,” said Boelter. “From an overhead view, the building represents the shape of an eagle. This is the Spirit of the Eagle and the rest of the Forest County Potawatomi clans, which will all be visible from within.”
“We are so pleased to have been able to design this building that will support wellness for the entire Forest County Potawatomi Community,” said Scott Ramlow, President of Ramlow/Stein Architecture + Planning. “In this pursuit of wellness, respect for nature is central in the entire design. The building levels flow with the topography of the site, structural forms mimic the trees in the surrounding forest and all spaces invite nature in with multi-story expansive views of the tree canopy outside. Ramlow/Stein, along with our partners, RDG Planning & Design, owe our thanks and gratitude to the Forest County Potawatomi for trusting us with this important work.”
After a formal Ground Blessing in May 2019, construction on the new facility began the following June. Construction was split into three areas: Area A, containing the gymnasium; Area B, containing the natatorium; and Area C, containing the fieldhouse.
Area A features a 20,000 SF three-court, wood floor gymnasium complete with LED scoreboards and monitors. The Eastern wing also includes offices, recreational and childcare areas along with bathrooms and an elevator.
Area B features an 11,000 SF natatorium which includes a wading pool with a zero-depth entry basin and spray features for younger swimmers, a six-lane lap pool for swim practice, swimming lessons, and group exercise classes, an activity pool, a waterslide, and a whirlpool with elevated sidewalls for ADA accessibility. It is highlighted by a 29-foot-tall by 130-foot-wide glass curtain wall that draws a connection between the cultural ties of the community and the forested surrounding. Area B also features the Commons area which includes a rock-climbing wall, commercial and teaching kitchens, weightlifting and cardio areas.
Area C features a 20,000 SF fieldhouse complete with synthetic turf, LED scoreboards and monitors and an elevated running track. The Western wing also includes offices and classrooms, bathrooms, and a stairwell.
The facility was broken into three independent areas for construction, which meant foundation walls, footings, and structural steel progressed in relation to the progress of each area. As a result, and in order to maintain a strict milestone schedule, structural steel was set in some portions of each area as concrete footings and foundation walls progressed in further sections. Area A was the first section to be complete followed by Area C, then B.
June 2019 – Construction Start
January 2020 – Footings Complete
July 16, 2021 – Substantial Completion
July 30, 2021 – Final Completion and Turnover
At just over $550 per square-foot, the Tribe has invested a considerable amount of resources and thought into designing an effective Community Center for its members. And with nothing but a dense, wooded forest to begin with, selecting highly efficient and energy-conserving materials was essential when building a space to serve as a resource for generations to come.
The exterior includes precast concrete panels with an integral feather-inspired pattern and metal panels with three-dimensional natural texture and color. Clear glass encompasses the facility to maximize daylight and connection to the surrounding woods. When clearing the site of trees, all timbers were hauled off site via FCP Forestry Services for future utilization on the facility.
The Center’s interior is highlighted by exposed mass timbers and structural beams which were sourced from Bell Structural Solutions timber yard in Minnesota. The natatorium includes two glulam beams that are 10.5” X 71.5” X 130’. Two of these beams were needed to clear the longest glulam requirement. Both beams were fastened together in the field to equal 16,266 net board feet with an estimated weight over 55,000 lbs. This is also believed to be the largest glulam pick in the United States.
The Commons area interior includes polished concrete flooring with feather design inlays and features stair treads and the front desk made from hemlock and oak that were sourced from the site. All mosaic columns were designed with FCP members to represent the four seasons.
As the construction manager, Greenfire is honored to build this monumental project for our Owner and to work with a fantastic architectural and design partners in Ramlow/Stein and RDG.
Constructing this project was no easy task. The project team constantly battled the erratic and unforgiving northern Wisconsin weather conditions daily. The team also completed the project during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This brought its own challenges including labor and procurement issues. However, the team remained vigilant and reworked the pull plan schedule to achieve all milestones and complete the long-term project. The project is highlighted by the team’s ability to maintain and safe and productive jobsite which includes:
“Greenfire and the partnering teams have worked together with our community to collectively gather both the exterior and interior design directly from the inner roots of our community,” said Boelter. “May this be a place where all dreams begin to take shape and develop into a reality.”
“Ramlow/Stein is thankful for the collaborative work of Greenfire, and especially that of Nick Moore & Craig Bailey,” said Ramlow. “The entire Greenfire team has been great to work with. Craig has been like having an architect on site; he is excellent with quality control and problem solving to see the design intent through.
“The Greenfire project team, our trade partners, and vendors have overcome many obstacles while making it past the 50% completion milestone,” said Nick Moore, Greenfire Project Manager for the Community Center. “Be it the unpredictable weather, unique construction angles, or current events in the world today, the group has come together to collaboratively create a plan to overcome. I look forward to finishing strong thanks to the culture and team we have establish onsite.”
✔ Turn over Parterre at Emerald Row Apartments
✔ Cut the ribbon at 37th Street School Apartments
✔ Break ground at The Locklyn
✔ Crack the Top 5 for Largest Milwaukee-area Minority-Owned Businesses
Quite the checklist for Greenfire this month. Read more in our October newsletter!
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