Top Projects of 2025: RUSD – Starbuck Middle School Addition & Renovation

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Hunzinger Construction delivered the Starbuck Middle School Addition and Renovation — a 142,657-square-foot, $42.3 million project for Racine Unified School District — transforming an aging elementary school into a unified K-8 campus without displacing a single student or interrupting instruction.

The project introduced an entire middle school program into a fully occupied elementary environment while simultaneously renovating nearly every portion of the existing building and site. Construction proceeded despite rising costs, significant weather events and two major Wisconsin flooding incidents that impacted large portions of the new addition.

Hunzinger developed a custom phasing methodology that sequenced work in two- to four-classroom clusters, allowing sections to be renovated and returned to service while adjacent areas remained fully operational, eliminating the need for temporary classrooms. The team also installed approximately 180 linear feet of new fire wall against the existing structure and sprinklered the entire school while maintaining occupied conditions — a technically demanding feat that exceeded code requirements.

Deep collaboration among Racine Unified School District, Zimmerman Architectural Studios, owner’s representative CG Schmidt and Hunzinger Construction enabled rapid problem-solving and disciplined cost control. Hunzinger also partnered with Big Step to create local workforce development opportunities, ensuring project investment benefited the surrounding Racine community.

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