Consolidated waits its turn for hotel job

Consolidated Construction crews finish pouring the foundation for the north wall of the 55,209-square-foot hotel in Mole Lake. Photos courtesy of Consolidated Construction Co. Inc.

The house went down on Dec. 5.

In the weeks leading up to its demolition, it stood as a solitary protest to the project. The home owner, a tribal member of the Mole Lake Sokaogon Chippewa Community, refused to leave despite offers for new lodging and a tribal ruling mandating that he step aside.

And as long as he stayed, the Consolidated Construction team charged with building the Mole Lake Hotel and Conference Center in Mole Lake was stuck.

The house sat on the footprint of the 65,631-square-foot, three-story project. That kept Consolidated from finishing the foundation, which, in turn, left the framing team waiting in the wings. The power poles running lines to the house blocked the team from putting in the elevator shaft.

So Consolidated waited and watched as its construction pace slipped behind schedule by three to five weeks.

“Normally in the course of a project, you reach obstacles and move through with rational decisions,” said Mark Schwei, Consolidated’s executive vice president. “This is emotional. We’re talking about a person, and you just don’t navigate that.”

Crews install a 6-inch water main for the Mole Lake Hotel and Conference Center. Photos courtesy of Consolidated Construction Co. Inc.

But the contractor finally found clear sailing when the home owner relinquished his hold, and now the project is all about catching up.

“We’ll continue on with construction and work with the owner,” Schwei said. “We will do our best to make up the schedule in other areas as the project proceeds. But there are no guarantees.”

The goal of the project, though, remains firm. The conference center and 75-room hotel, which is attached to the tribe’s casino, will feature a meeting area, bar and aquatic center complete with a children’s pool.

“They are trying to create a destination resort,” Schwei said.

And Consolidated’s commitment to go above and beyond the typical requirements of a general contractor is also as solid as it was when the project got rolling at the end of October, he said.

“We’re building it, contracting the operating company on behalf of the tribe, doing the interior decorating and supplying the furniture, fixtures and operating systems,” Schwei said. “We’re changing their lives, and we have the expertise within our construction company to develop the whole project beyond construction. And oh, by the way, we’ll build it too.”

And no matter what obstacles stand in the way of completion, Schwei said he’s confident the American Indian tribe will be happy with the result.

“The excitement level of the local people is just phenomenal,” he said. “From a marketing point of view, they’re looking for more economic vitality.”

— Chris Thompson