American Family Amphitheater Renovation is located on Milwaukee World Festival Grounds in Milwaukee, WI. Hunzinger served as Construction Manager/General Contractor for the complete redesign of the 30 year-old amphitheater to enhance the overall live music experience and provide expanded production capabilities and attract the largest artists and tours.  The new American Family Insurance Amphitheater features a new seating bowl configuration and raised stage to allow for better sight lines, enhanced accessibility, expanded concourses, new video screens, reimagined food and beverage operations, new VIP hospitality areas, additional restrooms, and much more! EUA is the architect for the project.

Our work on Phase 2 started immediately after the 2019 Summerfest event. Hunzinger completed upgrades to the rebranded American Family Insurance Amphitheater by raising nearly half of the amphitheater’s roof structure from 39 feet to 65 feet. This challenging effort required extensive pre-planning and precision execution that involved critical engineering analyses and highly skilled tradespeople. The raised section is approximately 24,100 square feet (1/2 acre), and weighs 607,000 pounds. This lifted roof expands stage production capabilities in the amphitheater, which now has the ability to host larger and more complex tours. The project was recognized by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) for it’s Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel (IDEAS²) Award. In addition, the Project also garnered an award from ENR Midwest’s 2022 Best Projects competition. The renovation work also included new food and beverage options and hospitality areas, an added concourse space, new and remodeled restrooms, increased ADA accessibility. This fast-tracked project deadline was met but the global pandemic canceled Summerfest 2020, so the unveiling of this exciting project happened in June of 2021, with the Foo Fighters playing its 1st event on July 30, 2021.  Rock on!