new glarus school district

In a three-project referendum, part of the school’s goal was to expand career pathways at the high school. Recognizing the need to revamp their STEAM Education, 13,200 square feet of space was remodeled and renovated, including agricultural science, career and technical education, art, and family & consumer education. 2,500 square feet were added to the wood shop, creating space for metal fabrication and additional workspace. Designed with operational safety in mind, the connecting addition helps instructors oversee both rooms easily. The remodeling portion of the project was up against a tight deadline. Despite school finishing the second week of June, Kraemer Brothers delivered the project in less than three months, making sure it was ready for the upcoming school year.

After early challenges balancing design goals with an approved referendum budget, the New Glarus School District selected Kraemer Brothers to help bring the project back on track without sacrificing the educational program the district knew it needed. Working closely with the district and the architect, Kraemer Brothers helped evaluate options that would be both fiscally responsible and aligned with the district’s long-term strategic plan. Through that collaboration, the team identified a solution: a 60,700 square foot addition to the existing elementary school paired with renovation of current spaces that allowed the district to move in a semester earlier than planned. Throughout design and construction, Kraemer Brothers closely tracked all design decisions, ensuring New Glarus had a clear, real-time understanding of costs at every stage.

The completed project introduces new opportunities for innovative learning. A two-story glass curtain wall encloses the commons area, bringing natural light into the building and serving as the cafeteria. The new two-station gymnasium incorporates technology systems designed to engage students physically, intellectually, and socially. Each grade level from 4K through second grade includes dedicated collaboration spaces with flexible furniture, cubbies, and sensory zones that support small-group learning and interaction. Classrooms were designed to accommodate both in-person and virtual learning, with safety features including emergency lockdown capabilities and secondary egress. Once the new cafeteria was completed, Kraemer Brothers transitioned crews to renovate the existing commons into a new media center filled with natural light, a calming color palette, and exploratory learning areas. Construction was carefully phased, with controlled access and strategic scheduling to avoid disruption to daily school operations.

Breaking ground in the fall of 2023, we managed the aggressive 9-month schedule, constructing an athletic complex, which finished in time for New Glarus’ first football game.