EVERY YEAR, A PANEL OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS IS ENLISTED BY THE DAILY REPORTER TO CHOOSE A BEST IN SHOW (PROJECT OF THE YEAR) HONOREE FROM AMONG THE TOP PROJECT AWARD WINNERS. IN KEEPING WITH NORMAL PRACTICE, THE JUDGES THIS YEAR LOOKED CLOSELY AT EACH OF THE 55 PROJECTS THAT RECIEVED AWARDS. THE COMPETITION FOR PROJECT OF THE YEAR WAS STIFF AS ALWAYS. BUT THE JUDGES DECIDED ONE PROJECT STOOD OUT ABOVE THE REST BASED ON A SCORING MODEL.
JUDGES:
Jeff Beiriger
President
Association/Management Services
Dan Bukiewicz
Oak Creek Mayor and
Council President of the
Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades
Nathan Jurowski
Executive Director
at Building Advantage
Mark Kessenich
Chief Executive Officer
Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee
John Mielke
President
Associated Builders and Contractors
Putting Milwaukee on the world’s stage
All the world’s a stage, as poet William Shakespeare once wrote. Many years later, the result of the American Family Insurance Amphitheater at Summerfest is poetry in motion for the crews that worked on the $52.3 million project.
The largest capital project in Summerfest’s history brought about an overhaul to the venue’s main stage. The result exceeded expectations for general contractor Hunzinger Construction, which started work in 2018. The finished 118,000 SQ FT product in 2020, which included raising the roof from 39 feet to 65 feet, was an engineering and building feat – pulled together seamlessly by all the project partners.
The project also added new concession areas and restroom capacity, including doubling the number of women’s restroom stalls (which, if you ever attended a concert at the former venue you know was sorely needed) and improved all seating in the venue that didn’t comply with ADA standards to meet vertical-separation requirements and improve sight lines.
Congratulations to the crews and companies that had a hand in the American Family Insurance Amphitheater at Summerfest project. It’s a world-class project for a world-class venue. -The Daily Reporter