2022 ABC of Wisconsin Awards Banquet

Evaluated on criteria relating to safety, craftsmanship, execution and coordination; scheduling; difficult and unusual challenges; owner satisfaction; and overall distinctiveness, Kraemer Brothers received four awards for projects completed in 2022. The four projects that won awards are as followed:

Mineral Point Elementary School Addition & Renovation — A top-to-bottom renovation of a vintage elementary school, this multi-year project also included a new 3-station Gymnasium, Library Media Center, and a connecting walkway with a large overhead skylight. The whole school was updated with new MEP systems, wall coverings, ceiling, flooring, fixtures, furnishings, and air conditioning throughout the entire school.

Iowa County Law Enforcement Center — This new facility included a sheriff’s office, jail, emergency management services, and a coroner’s office. Despite the COVID pandemic and supply chain shortages, this project finished up 1 month ahead of schedule and returned over $1 Million in savings back to the county upon completion.

Promega Chappelle Manufacturing Center — This manufacturing facility produces small molecule components used in many of Promega’s products. Using nearly half of the building to support the mechanical process systems, this advanced facility design is focused on safety in its manufacturing capabilities of large, small, and kilo scale synthetic organic chemistry. The exterior of this facility includes a combination of real stone exterior walls, contrasting brick colors, glass windows and metal accents.

Sauk Prairie Police Station — This new facility featured police personnel offices, community conference rooms, exercise & wellness rooms, evidence processing rooms, and a large indoor parking garage. Using a butterfly-style roof and modern clerestory windows, natural daylighting shines into the briefing and walking corridors. Decorative quarry stone and brick cover the exterior intermixed by burnt orange metal siding and blue fascia, broadcasting a premium look to the new building.

We would like to thank our clients who selected us to construct their projects and congratulate them on their award-winning building!

Usona Institute Project Update

Surrounded by glulam beams and cross-laminated timber panels, the interior of the Usona Institute Center of Research Project is starting to take shape. Exterior windows are finishing up soon while the stained cedar siding continues to be installed on the 2nd story of the building. The rough carpentry framing and drywall applications are ongoing throughout the building with interior finishes such as painting, wood paneling, glazing, flooring, stone masonry, and acoustical ceiling grid starting up. MEP systems are being put in place while the therapy pool area rough-in has started, all on track for a late summer completion.

Great Wolf Lodge Update

The Great Wolf Lodge in Pocono, PA is just over halfway complete. The fourth-floor exterior framing is complete, while the masonry walls, precast plank, exterior sheathing, and underground plumbing and electrical continue to be installed. Unique to this project, the bathrooms in the hotel wing are preassembled in modular “pods” with the wall coverings, ceilings, flooring, bathtub, shower kit, lavatory, and water closet already assembled. Staging them in each room and installing the rough MEPs is all that is required for completing each bathroom. The installation of these pods is set to start in March of 2023. The waterpark is making progress with the precast concrete columns, beams, and wall panels complete. The equipment, piping, and electrical rough ins continue to be installed in the basement of the waterpark along with the glulam beams, steel structure, and roof wood decking in the indoor water park. With the drywall finishing up in the restaurant and lobby, interior framing, above ceiling and in-wall MEP rough ins continue, followed by the flooring and installing the kitchen equipment.

Mill Creek Academy Update

Mill Creek Academy, one of our latest education projects for our new client National Heritage Academies, is off to a fast start with the foundations, underground rough-ins, and concrete slab-on-grade complete. The bearing walls are finishing up, ready for the above-slab MEP rough-ins, roof trusses, and sheathing to be installed. Roofing, non-bearing walls, air & vapor barrier, and classrooms windows are scheduled to finish up at the end of this month. A wood-framed building, this K-8 facility will feature 37 classrooms, conference rooms, dean offices, and a gymnasium in the center that will double as a cafeteria. The exterior of the building will consist of fiber cement siding, stone masonry, and white trim with canopies using cedar trusses, beams, columns and a stone base and sill. 

Klondike Cheese Company Dry Storage Addition Finishes

The Klondike Cheese Dry Storage Addition finished up this month. Constructed out of exterior precast concrete walls, interior precast columns and beams and a precast double-tee roof structure, this 16,500 square foot addition finished ahead of schedule. Inside, there is plenty of space to store pallets, boxes, shipping supplies, and other equipment. Seamlessly matching the existing buildings, the addition streamlines Klondike Cheese’s shipping process by keeping the yogurt, cheese and dairy products secure in the cooler and keeping the shipping supplies readily available in the separated dry storage area. 

TRU by Hilton Hotel Update

The TRU by Hilton Hotel in Lake Delton is going up at a fast pace. This 100-room hotel is primarily constructed out of wood studs and wood panels. Currently, the third floor is being framed and sheathed with MEP rough-ins after each floor is covered. After the fourth floor is completely framed and sheathed, the roof trusses, parapet framing, and sheathing will be installed followed by the windows, masonry veneer, roofing, and EIFS siding. Projected to finish up in early summer 2023, this hotel will be ready for prime vacation season.

Leola Hall Addition Groundbreaking

In September, the school and community celebrated at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new addition to the River Arts Center located in the Sauk Prairie High School, which is the last part of the 2020 Sauk Prairie Referendum. This new addition will be named after Leola Culver who graciously donated a large portion, making the community’s dream a reality. Featuring a secondary theatre, this addition will also consist of a green room, lobby, storage, and a pair of dressing rooms. A much needed space for students and the community, this new theatre room will host visual and performing arts, rehearsals, meetings, shows, and other planned events. Thank you to all who attended this event!

Sauk County Highway Department Groundbreaking

Part of a pair of buildings for our long-term client Sauk County, the new Highway Department Facility in Baraboo broke ground in late September, while their smaller satellite facility located in Reedsburg will break ground in spring of 2023. The sitework for the Baraboo project will continue this fall with the majority of the construction occurring in March of 2023. The 164,000 square foot building in Baraboo features two wash bays, a large fleet parking area, repair shop, equipment and tool storage rooms, and an office portion holding break rooms, supervisor offices, a dispatch room, and a locker room for crew members to use. 

Project Hero – Great Lakes Cycling Challenge

Project Hero, an organization that brings together veterans and first responders and helps then heal through outdoor recreational therapy and community programs, made a stop at the Kraemer Brothers’ north yard in Plain as part of the Great Lakes Cycling Challenge ride. Setup at the entrance of our facility, Kraemer Brothers hung an American Flag suspended between two forklifts, providing and inviting atmosphere. Once the cyclists entered the driveway, we had supporters cheering them on up to our overhead doors where refreshments and snacks were available for the participants. Kraemer Brothers employees, supporters, and veterans from the community at the venue were able to visit with the veterans and first responders who were participating in the event, listening, and hearing stories. With the cyclist group and Kraemer Brothers’ employees together, Project Hero presented a signed jersey to Tom and Ryan Kraemer. Thanks to all who participated in this event!

Decatur Cheese Plant Addition Breaking Ground

Decatur Dairy and members of the Decatur Swiss Cheese Cooperative officially broke ground August 16th on their new 50-50 venture, Decatur Cheese Plant, LLC. With Decatur Cheese Plant, LLC owning the building and the land, Decatur Dairy will handle the marketing and will own the equipment in the facility, while the co-op members now have an agreement for milk from their farms to go to this plant. This food & dairy project consists of a new cooler, warm room, dry storage, and a packaging room addition. A total of 27,000 square feet, the addition will nearly double their current facility. Constructed out of precast exterior walls and masonry interior bearing walls, the addition will help expand their operation to produce more of their havarti, muenster, and specialty swiss cheese.