The Daily Reporter – WI Construction News & Bids Wisconsin's Construction Authority
General contractors working on a $100 million casino renovation project in Milwaukee have entered into a project labor agreement with laborers to include more apprenticeship opportunities and access to trades careers.
Potawatomi Hotel & Casino will renovate 120,000 square feet of the third floor of its casino, casino officials announced in May. Gilbane Building Co. and Potawatomi subsidiary Greenfire Management Services were the main contractors tasked with the project. I-5 will be the lead architecture firm.
Potawatomi and Gilbane signed the agreement during the week of Aug. 28, officials familiar with the project said. The agreement is meant to promote efficient and safe construction, while also providing opportunities for apprenticeships and people looking to enter a career in the trades.
An agreement between labor and management would provide a platform to help projects meet both schedule and budget goals, officials said. The PLA would provide a focus on safety and make a highly skilled workforce available to avoid any delays in construction. Demolition is underway as contractors prepare for the first phase of renovation.
The project includes more than 1,800 slot machine stations, a rock-themed restaurant and a full-service Starbucks Coffee location, the casino said in a statement. Other plans include a food and beverage station, a gift shop, modern interior decoration, LED lighting and a sound system throughout the third floor.
Potawatomi officials broke ground for the project restaurant Rock & Brews in May, which will be open this month. The rest of the project should be complete in the spring of 2023.
