ASHWAUBENON – Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, along with officials representing Resch Expo partners, celebrated the opening of the 127,000-square-foot-facility Wednesday, Jan. 20.
“This $93 million project is going to wow people,” said Streckenbach. “It’s going to complement the Stadium District, allowing Brown County and Northeast Wisconsin to continue to be competitive in attracting businesses and tourism, while improving the quality of life for our residents.”
Completed on time and on budget, the new Resch Expo is constructed on the site of the former Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena and Shopko Hall, next to the Resch Center and across the street from Lambeau Field.
“This is an exciting event space for everyone in Northeast Wisconsin,” said Ashwaubenon Village President Mary Kardoskee. “It has taken many years of discussion to get this done and I thank everyone involved in this outstanding addition to our entertainment district.”
The project lasted for 26 months, including design and construction, which lasted for 437 days, with an average of 115 construction workers per day, and 195 at the peak.
“As the construction manager, we are honored to have been a partner on the Resch Expo,” said Tim Kippenhan, vice
president and COO of Miron Construction Co., Inc. “This project could not have been delivered without the dedication and commitment of local subcontractors and suppliers, and most importantly the safety and quality-minded craftspeople who made this facility a reality, even during uncertain times.”
Of the $93 million price tag, 85 percent of the dollars spent had a local impact.
“We are excited about the economic enhancing possibilities Resch Expo has to offer the residents of Brown County and Northeastern Wisconsin,” said Brendan Bruss, PMI Entertainment Group president. “The future return of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association is just one example of Resch Expo already delivering events that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.”
Resch Expo’s multi-purpose design allows it to host multiple events at one time, minimizing downtime between shows due to move-in and move-out, also known as dark days.
Eliminating dark days creates the potential to maximize usage, bolstering business for surrounding developments and increasing the potential for economic impact.
“It’s incredible to think about the amount of work that’s been accomplished since we started our very first meeting in November of 2018,” said Jeff Piette, Kahler Slater principal-in-charge. “To deliver this project with an aggressive timeline has required an experienced, dedicated and complementary team of professionals, all focused on a shared vision of delivering a top-tier, elevated expo experience for Brown County.”
Resch Expo’s design created connections between buildings as well as between nature and the built environment – the abundance of glass windows creates a sense of transparency and access, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor and welcoming the distinctive Wisconsin landscape in.
“One of the most unique features of the venue is its sweeping balcony views of the Armed Forces Plaza and the legendary Lambeau Field,” said Todd Gralla, Populous principal-in-charge. “Mezzanine level meeting rooms and terraces overlooking the plaza and Lambeau Field, as well as large glass doors along one end of the expo hall, allow events to flow outdoors, promoting connectivity between events and the public and adding to the sense of belonging we’re trying to evoke within the community.”