The Daily Reporter honored Kraemer Brothers with it’s annual Top Projects award for the New Glarus Elementary School Addition and Renovation. This awards program recognizes Wisconsin’s top construction projects and tells the stories of its impact to the state. The projects were judged through a rigorous process based on: overall impact to the community; challenges/obstacles overcome in building the project; scope/importance of the project; teamwork involved in turning over a successful project; and the importance of the project, including any innovative building techniques.

For more information about the project, make sure to check out the project portfolio!

Five years after completing a classroom addition, Kraemer Brothers has returned to St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Middleton to support the continued growth of its congregation and Westside Christian school. Designed by ADCI, the expansion includes two new entrances and a sanctuary that will increase seating capacity by 40 percent. An atrium, located outside the sanctuary, will provide a welcoming gathering space, while adjacent rooms will add space for offices and student services. Inside the sanctuary, a circular wall introduces a distinctive architectural element to the space. Large glass windows connecting to the cry and sensory rooms will allow occupants to remain visually engaged in the service. Once the new sanctuary is complete, crews will transition to renovating the existing sanctuary, converting it into four classrooms. This transformation will allow Westside Christian School to increase enrollment up to 30 percent. Drywall installation is currently underway, with painting to follow. Flooring is scheduled to begin in March, and finishes will continue thereafter. Kraemer Brothers has carefully phased the project and utilized temporary secure entrances to ensure the safety of students, staff, and the congregation.

ABC of Wisconsin honored Kraemer Brothers with four awards at the annual Projects of Distinction awards banquet. This awards banquet recognizes Wisconsin’s most impressive and unique construction projects that are built on merit, by skilled employees who do not belong to organized labor. The projects were judged through a rigorous process by a panel of construction experts based on a number of criteria, including safety, quality, owner satisfaction, execution and coordination, budgeting, difficult and unusual challenges, and overall distinctiveness.

The projects awarded at the banquet include New Glarus Elementary Addition & Renovation, Reedsburg Area Medical Center Primary Clinic Addition, and Freshpack Addition & Renovation. Kraemer Brothers also received the Build on Merit award for the Reedsburg Area Medical Center project, which recognizes the dedication to support merit shop philosophy.

For more information about each project, make sure to check out each project portfolio!

Serving approximately 15,500 citizens in 136 square miles, the Platteville Fire Department needed an upgrade, as its current facility was inadequate to serve the growing population. The new fire station will include a large seven-bay apparatus storage area with drive-through access, as well as two stalls for a command garage, which will ultimately improve response time. Designed by Wendel-Five Bugels, the station will include rooms to aid firefighters and EMS personnel after the service call. A gear locker room, decontamination areas, and upgraded ventilation systems help remove contaminants keeping both personnel and their families safe. The station incorporates flexibility by including dormitory units and living quarters should a future need arise for full-time firefighters. Administrative space includes offices, community/training rooms, and conference space. Masonry veneer is wrapping up this month, and our masons are transitioning to interior CMU walls. We have prepped the slab-on-grade in the administration area and will continue into the apparatus bay once the underground MEP installations are complete.

Through strong recommendations from other nearby Kraemer Brothers built cheese factories, Wenger Springbrook Cheese selected Kraemer Brothers to assist with their plant expansion. To keep our client operational, this project will be split into two phases. The first phase will consist of constructing new loading docks, designated offices, and connection corridors to the second phase. Phase two will add a cooler, expand the dry storage area, and renovate the existing cooler into a packaging room. To accommodate access to the new addition, Wenger Springbrook Cheese’s current lagoon will be relocated, and a new drive lane and parking lot constructed in its place. The addition will be constructed of precast concrete panels and utilize knockout panels for easy future expansion. A third-generation family-owned cheese company, Wenger Springbrook Cheese specializes in Swiss cheese along with varieties of Havarti, Muenster, Brick, and Baby Swiss.

Kraemer Brothers was founded in 1948 by three WWII Veterans, Linus, Alfred, and Norm. Each had a unique skillset that helped shape Kraemer Brothers the way we are today.

Linus (left) entered the army on October 19, 1945, and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. He was a Fourth Grade Technician as a Construction Foreman, where he supervised eight Shopmen and 15 Maintenance & Repair Men. Honorably discharged from the military on November 11, 1946, Linus used his niche construction foreman skills to form Kraemer Brothers with his brothers Alfred and Norm.

Alfred (center) entered the service on August 12, 1942, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Transferred to Harlingen Army Air Force Base at Harlingen, Texas, Alfred was placed directly in the Finance Department. After spending his entire service at the Harlingen Army Air Force Finance Department, he was honorably discharged on February 14, 1946, at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, holding the rank of Technical Sergeant. Alfred’s financial knowledge helped shape how we have an open-book and transparent bidding process.

Norm (right), a corporal in the Army Air Corps, served nearly three years from his enlistment on April 16, 1943. After his basic training in New York, Norm traveled to Guantanamo Bay and then to Hawaii, where he was shipped to the Battle of Guam on July 23, 1944, and served there until April 1, 1945. Two days later, Norm arrived for the Battle of Okinawa and served until the end of World War II. Close to 6 months after the war ended, Norm finally returned to his hometown of Plain, WI. Norm’s knowledge of scheduling and sourcing materials correlates to our trademark of consistently finishing under budget and ahead of schedule.

We are proud of the legacy our three founders created through hard work, determination, and our core value of doing what’s right, and we continue to honor their example in every project we build.

With school back in session, Kraemer Brothers has successfully completed a pair of renovation projects, both of which incorporated youth apprentices.

The School District of Reedsburg’s commitment to innovative learning began with Phase I of their referendum. Designed by EUA, the high school library was transformed into a state-of-the-art fabrication, collaboration, and design/innovation lab. This new space supports both individual learning and large group instruction. The cafeteria was also remodeled to include a school store, updated wallcoverings, ceiling baffles, and new furnishings. Future phases will include upgrades to the technical and agricultural education departments.

As part of River Valley’s initiative to promote skilled trades, the district chose to renovate the high school’s wood shop. Over the summer, new epoxy flooring was installed, windows were replaced, electrical systems upgraded, and the restrooms completely renovated. An ADA-compliant ramp and new overhead doors now significantly improve accessibility to the shop.

Built 127 years ago, this facility remains the oldest operating jail in Wisconsin and is now being revitalized through a careful blend of historic preservation and modernization. The new addition includes 32 cells and increases the facility’s capacity to house more than 80 inmates, doubling its current capacity. Designed by Klein McCarthy Architects, the facility prioritizes safety, security, and operational efficiency. A central secure monitoring area provides unobstructed sightlines into each two-story dayroom pod, ensuring both staff and inmates remain safe. A drive-through sallyport allows deputies to transport inmates into the booking area and holding cells safely and efficiently. A secure chase constructed behind the jail cells will provide easy access for maintenance of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. The addition is also directly connected to the existing law enforcement center, enabling seamless circulation between the new jail, the renovated sheriff’s office, and the courthouse. Currently, the exterior masonry veneer, which was specifically sourced to match the existing building and courthouse, is nearing completion, paving the way for site concrete work and topsoil grading. Inside, painting is in progress, and MEP finishes are set to begin shortly. These will be followed by the installation of security ceilings, detention doors, resinous flooring, and security glazing.

Find out more about the Crawford County Justice Center:

As school gets out and the summer season begins, we are starting renovation projects for two nearby school districts, including the School District of Reedsburg and River Valley School District.

As the first phase in Reedsburg’s referendum project, the high school library is being renovated into a Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This project will feature a state-of-the-art fabrication, collaboration, and design/innovation lab that can accommodate both individual classroom learning and large group instruction. The cafeteria will also be remodeled in this phase to include a school store. Future phases of the referendum will include a renovation and addition to support their growing Agricultural Education and Technical Education classes.

River Valley School District is investing into their Technology Education Department. The existing wood and metals shop will be renovated to include new windows, overhead doors, flooring, equipment, and ADA-compliant upgrades. The district is also renovating parts of the high school, intermediate school, and elementary school.

As part of our mission to engage students in every phase of their education, we are proudly employing youth apprentices from each school.