Forest County Potawatomi Community Wgema Campus ­- Historic Tthigwe Gymnasium

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Careful attention to detail along with the addition of modern amenities were essential in the renovation of the historic Tthigwe Gymnasium on the Forest County Potawatomi Community’s Wgema Campus.

Although the project upgraded and modernized the gym’s mechanicals and facilities, Mike Smith, senior project manager for Greenfire, said extra attention was taken to preserve many original features of the gym, including restoring and repairing all the original brickwork.

“The goal of the project was to keep as much of the historical look intact as possible. … We tuckpointed all the exterior brick walls from the ground to rooftop and installed all new historic windows and exterior doors to match the campus based on the original look,” he said.

The Tthigwe Gymnasium is the latest step in the Forest County Potawatomi Community’s restoration and renovation of its Top Projects-winning Wgema Campus, the former campus of Concordia College on Milwaukee’s near west side. The renovated space will be used for Potawatomi community events and by the students at the adjacent Woodlands School.

In the building’s interior, the electrical, plumbing, fire protection and HVAC systems were all updated. The gym floor was refinished and a fresh epoxy coating was applied to all the concrete floors. The gym was also upgraded to comply with ADA standards, featuring new accessible bathrooms and entrances.

Smith said the project integrated solar panels, which improved the building’s sustainability. Engineers were also able to merge 85% of the pre-existing radiant heat systems with contemporary forced air HVAC systems, ensuring optimal energy efficiency.

The project also included the demolition of an unused pool wing with the space now being used for additional parking.