Wisconsin Builder | Top Projects of 2002

Strong Bond

Burkhart, Waukesha unite for Fox River

Fox River Corridor, Phase III, Parts D and F Waukesha

By Chris Thompson

On a February afternoon in 2002, Burkhart Construction picked up the gazebo at the center of downtown Waukesha and moved it to the shores of the Fox River.

It was the centerpiece of the Butler-based company's latest project in a long line of jobs to beautify a one-mile stretch of shoreline along the river. It also captured, in the hour it took to relocate the 60,000-pound gazebo, the teamwork and trust that has developed between the city, the contractor and the architect, Hitchcock Design Group, Naperville, Ill., over the 10 years they have worked together on the Fox River projects.

"It was certainly something that was of a very critical nature, and it was very pleasant to work with the city so closely," said Mike Spanheimer, Burkhart vice president. "Everything went just perfectly."

The ease with which the company handled the gazebo move wasn't really a surprise, he said, because after an owner, contractor and architect work together on six consecutive projects, they tend to develop an understanding of each other.

"The best part of the project was our relationship with Waukesha and Hitchcock Design," he said. "We had developed a comfortable relationship and good rapport with the architect. Through changes that occurred — through no one's fault — we were able to adjust well. It made it a fun project to work on."

River work

This latest round of Fox River work for Burkhart encompassed two phases — parts D and F — of the Fox River corridor renovation. In part F, which Burkhart tackled first, the company built a 600-foot boardwalk outside the buildings along the river to allow pedestrian passage, and it then connected those paths with pedestrian bridges. That portion of the overall project connected two previously completed phases.

"Another challenge was constructing the A-frame pedestrian bridge across the Fox River," Spanheimer said. "It was custom designed by the architect, and many elements needed to come together. It's one of those outstanding elements of design that makes the project stand out."

Project Name: Fox River Corridor, Phase III, Parts D and F
Location: Waukesha
Submitting Company: Burkhart Construction Corp., Butler
General Contractor/Construction Manager: Burkhart Construction Corp., Butler
Architect: Hitchcock Design Group, Naperville, Ill.
Engineer: Arnold & O'Sheridan Inc., Brookfield
Owner: City of Waukesha
Project Cost: $1.98 million
Start Date: July 2001
Completion Date: May 2002

With part F behind them, Burkhart crews turned to part D, which included constructing the new foundation for the gazebo.

"It was a really big part of it because that really was a custom project," Spanheimer said. "For us to copy the foundation from old plans and be responsible for the relocation of the gazebo was a key element."

In addition to the gazebo, bridge and boardwalk, Burkhart's team removed a building foundation and added boulders to prevent river washout, handled landscaping work along the river and built retaining walls along the riverfront.

It was an eclectic mix of work, and Spanheimer said it never would have happened if not for the involvement of community leaders and businesses.

"The direction and continuing efforts of the Fox River Development Board have been the driving force of the project," he said. "I think when you work on a project like that, you have local landowners playing a big part in the project, most significantly Waukesha State Bank. Their cooperation was truly appreciated during construction."

The final two phases of the project are still in the works, with the next phase going to bid this spring.

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