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Top Projects of 2025: New Glarus Elementary School Addition & Renovation
Top Projects of 2025: New Glarus Elementary School Addition & Renovation
By: Daily Reporter Staff//May 8, 2026//
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When the New Glarus School District’s elementary school project came in $6 million over budget, the district terminated its original construction manager and turned to Kraemer Brothers to realign the project financially and strategically. Starting essentially from square one, Kraemer Brothers worked closely with the district and architect to identify a solution that preserved the educational program while respecting the constraints of a $28.9 million referendum — the largest on the ballot in southwestern Wisconsin at the time.
The revised plan called for an addition to the existing school paired with strategic renovation of current spaces. Because the site bordered a floodplain, the only viable location for the addition was the existing athletic field, requiring construction of a new synthetic turf athletic complex completed in eight months despite soil issues and winter work stoppages. Kraemer Brothers recommended a design-build MEP delivery method, enabling students and staff to move in one semester earlier than originally planned and helping the district avoid additional interest on the referendum bond.
The 66,700-square-foot, $23 million completed project features a two-story glass curtain wall commons, a two-station gymnasium with interactive technology, modern classrooms with emergency lockdown capabilities, and a renovated media center. Biweekly budget reviews kept the district informed at every stage of construction.
Project Essentials
Location: New Glarus
Cost: $ 23,053,096
Complete: March 2025
Owner/Developer: New Glarus School District
Architect: Bray Architects
Engineers: Point of Beginning, Ambrose Engineering
General Contractor: Kraemer Brothers
Submitting Company: Kraemer Brothers
Subcontractors: 3M Personal Safety Division, Advanced Concrete, Aerotek, American Fence Co., AON, Autodesk, Automatic Entrances of WI, B-L Signs, Badger Washing, Baseman Bros, Best Specialties, Block Iron & Supply Co., BPI Color, Capital Steel Erectors, Carroll Seating Co., Central Ceiling Systems, Commercial Shading Systems, Complete Thermal Systems, Construction Supply, County Materials Corp., DeWalt, Edwards Cast Stone Co., Endres Manufacturing Co., Fabick CAT, Forward Engineering, Gerber Leisure Products, GILES Engineering Associates, Goodson Furniture & Equipment, Grand Appliance & TV, Hartford Landscape and Supply, Hatch Building Supply, Hellenbrand Glass, Herc Rentals, HGS Protective Coatings, Hillcraft of Wisconsin, Hilti, IKM Building Solutions, Inpro Corp., J & D Enterprises Seating & Safety Solutions, JLG, Kavanaugh Restaurant Supply, Kwik Trip, Laforce, Lion Tree Group, Loger Construction, Luther & Weber Painting, MacArthur Co., Maly Ceramic Tile Co., MARZ & Associates, MDC Interior Solutions, Midwest Drilled Foundation & Engineering, Midwest Roofing & Construction, Milwaukee Tool, MinCon, Muza Sheet Metal Co., Nelson Fire Protection, Olson Toon Landscaping, Overhead Door of Madison, Payne & Dolan, Pro-Foamers, Raymond P Cattell, RG Huston Co., Rockford Central Tile & Terrazzo Co., Saris Cycling Group, ServiceMaster Building Maintenance, Silo-Mix, South Central Contracting, SRI Consultants, The Boelter Companies, Travelers Bond and Specialty Insurance, United Brick & Fireplace, Van Ert Electric Co., Verona Safety Supply Co., Von Briesen & Roper, Zimmerman Plumbing
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