Ground has been broken for CG Schmidt’s new corporate offices at 11700 W. Lake Park Dr. on Milwaukee’s far northwest side.
The 17,000-square-foot building will house the construction company’s staff of more than 40 persons and will replace its current home on North Richards Street – a facility constructed in 1963.
The company expects to take occupancy of the new building in November.
In selecting the new location and planning its new building, the company set out to accomplish several goals, said Bill Kissinger, company vice president.
One goal was to stay in the city – a goal realized by the purchase of a site in the Park Place office development from the Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. “The city, especially the Department of City Development, was especially helpful to us in fulfilling our commitment to stay in the city,” Kissinger said.
Another goal was to provide room for continued growth. The firm has seen its revenues grow from $35 million five years ago to $90 million today. That has led to an increased professional staff at the main office as well as a growing field force.
“We anticipate continued growth in the coming years and a moderate increase in office and professional staff to support our construction operations,” said company president Steve Chamberlin. “We are taking every opportunity to make our operation more efficient through automation, but need to provide space for additional people.”
The other goal, said senior project manager Dan Davis, is design and build with “sustainability” in mind. Calling the company a leading proponent of “green” construction principles, Davis said CG Schmidt intends to use the building as a demonstration site for green design principles that can be applied at little or no cost to construction projects.
Green principles that CG Schmidt will take into consideration for its facility are building orientation, mechanical systems, construction materials and landscaping.
May 1998 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
