If buildings could talk, this one would have stories to tell. 100 years ago, the facility that now houses Mosinee Brewing Company in central Wisconsin was a bustling grocery store in the town of Mosinee. As time passed, new tenants transformed the building into a discount store and then for many years it sat empty, slated to be condemned.

But, just like the initial owner of the building 100 hundred years earlier, Jacquelyn Forbes Kearns had a vision for what this building could be – a craft brewery, outdoor beer garden, taproom and event space – and how it could help revitalize her local community.

Ryan Wanta of Wanta & Son Inc., stated that they received a phone call from a possible client who wondered if they could come save her building as its roof had just caved in. Wanta & Son Inc., is a top industrial and commercial construction and contracting business in central Wisconsin. “From that point on, we worked together with a shared vision to restore the original brick structure and replace the cobbled-on additions with a sleek, modern metal building as a way of marrying the old and new” said Wanta.

While the idea was clear, the execution of the idea had become quite complicated.

“It was obvious this structure had been remodeled and added onto over the years and some jobs were done better than others.  Also, fitting a new metal structure with an old brick building proved to be quite the challenge, particularly when there were conflicting ideas of what ‘square’ meant,” said Wanta. “We could tell the original builders had built it as best they could to fit the lot, but that meant some of the walls weren’t exactly straight. After we were able to peel back the layers, we were able to make it come together.”

Wanta stated that even after measuring, measuring and more measuring, he was sure to allow for wiggle room when joining the structures.

“We were having to deal with a load-bearing wall that was not exactly level or straight so we had to leave enough room to fill in any gaps without making it look like a patch job,” said Wanta. “In addition to that, having the extra room allowed for additional insulation to make sure we wouldn’t lose energy at the connection point.”

When it came time to select products, Wanta & Son partnered with Star Building Systems, part of the Cornerstone Building Brands family, the largest manufacturer of exterior building products in North America, to deliver the state-of-the-art metal building solution.

Wanta used Star’s Double-Lok^® panels in Galvalume Plus^® for the roof system, which provides a high degree of weathertightness^.. They also used a full-width, interior-style gutter placed inside the low eave of the single slope roof structure.

“In colder climates like Wisconsin’s, gutters and downspouts are often compromised,” explained Wanta. Which is why utilizing an interior gutter solution allowed them to forgo exterior components.

“The interior gutter allows the heat from the building which helps keep it thawed and provides a neat and modern appearance around the facility,” Wanta said. “In addition to the aesthetic appeal and by not having to install more flat roof EPDM rubber membranes, we were able to offer a more cost-effective option and pass the savings to our customer.”

Wanta & Son chose Star’s PBR panels in Galvalume Plus^®, which feature deep ribs for an even-shadowed appearance for the wall system, and MBCI MasterLine 16^® concealed fastener metal wall panels in Charcoal Gray.

“We used the PBR as a ‘drainage plane’ behind the MBCI MasterLine 16 with the outermost ridges of the PBR panel acting as a ‘strapping’ to attach the exterior panel,” Wanta said. “The steel wall panels allowed us greater expanses for windows.”

Dan Smith, who has been affiliated with Star Building Systems for about 35 years, currently as a Star district manager and an Authorized Builder before that, provided support for the project, working behind the scenes with Wanta & Sons, Inc.

“The Mosinee Brewing Company project is a perfect example of the Star Building Systems approach, which is empowering builders to advance their business to become leaders in their local market,” said Smith. “My goal is to train them to understand our products and systems so they can effectively sell the project to their customers. My job is to make our Authorized Star Builders the experts, not me.”

In addition to education, Star also provides its builders access to an extensive portfolio of tools, training, and technology – all backed by a full range of the highest-quality building products available anywhere.

This partnership approach, combined with the vision and determination of the building owner, transformed Mosinee Brewing Company into a major attraction for area residents and central Wisconsin visitors alike.

“The Mosinee Brewing Company started a wave of revitalization in the downtown area,” said Jay Ritger, operations manager for Mosinee Brewing Company. “The Governor of Wisconsin even stopped by to extend his appreciation for restoring this building and opening a gathering place that would put downtown Mosinee back on the map.”

With a new hotel opening next year, Ritger said downtown Mosinee is becoming a destination as opposed to a place people drive through on their way to a bigger city.

“Even though we’re in a small town, when you walk inside the brewery you get that big-city feel,” Ritger said. “People who moved away are now proud to come back with their friends to downtown Mosinee and the brewery, which is what we set out to achieve – being a place where people could gather with old friends and make new ones.”

The project included the following team members: Builder – Wanta & Son, Inc., Hatley, WI; Architect – Ryan Wanta, Hatley, WI; and Building Manufacturer – Star Building Systems, Oklahoma City, OK.