This modern, student-focused facility is being constructed to expand and update the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) and arts programming, as part of the Pewaukee School District’s 2024 referendum initiative.

Scheduled to open in Winter 2025, the new wing at Pewaukee High School will feature specialized learning environments for engineering, culinary arts, graphic design, manufacturing, construction, and art, each designed to prepare students for future careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. The STEAM Addition encompassed 54,045 square feet of additions and renovations, bringing both scale and complexity to the project.

Brad Mehring, Plumbing Foreman at Lee Mechanical, highlighted the importance of teamwork, communication, and strategic planning in meeting strict deadlines on this expansion. “When big jobs with big challenges arise, I know I can rely on my fellow co-workers for help. And with that trust and camaraderie, the most difficult projects feel more manageable,” Mehring shared.

From the project manager and prefab team to the tool department and plumbers on site, every part of the Lee team played a critical role in overcoming challenges and driving the project forward. Brad noted that being part of a school project designed to teach future construction skills has been especially meaningful, making the work both exciting and rewarding.

From the start, working within an active school setting required Lee Mechanical to carefully plan around daily activities. Heavy equipment and major construction tasks had to be completed inside finished spaces, which demanded precise coordination to ensure safety and minimize disruptions for students and staff. As construction progressed, unforeseen structural issues arose that required the installation of additional supports and temporary shoring to stabilize the building while plumbing systems were put in place. These surprises pushed back progress but did not extend deadlines, forcing the team to compress schedules and accelerate work to complete each phase on time.

The renovation of the culinary space brought its own unique challenges. With no prior modeling or coordination, Lee Mechanical had to problem-solve in real time, working side by side with other trades to fit new mechanical systems into tight, low ceilings and crowded walls filled with existing piping and electrical. The turnaround time was short, with the space needing to be ready before the school year began. Collaboration, precision, and adaptability became essential to deliver the space successfully.

Additional challenges arose even earlier in the project during foundation excavations, when unsuitable soil conditions caused delays of nearly a month. Excavations had to be made larger and deeper than expected and reinforced with concrete, which created significant hurdles for underground plumbing installation. To address these obstacles, Lee Mechanical deployed extra crews, worked overtime, and implemented creative solutions such as adding additional sleeves in deep over-digs and breaking through concrete to properly install plumbing. Careful layout and close coordination with other contractors ensured underground systems were sequenced effectively, despite the setbacks.

Through proactive problem-solving, accelerated scheduling, and strong collaboration, Lee Mechanical overcame these challenges and kept the Pewaukee High School STEAM Addition on track, helping deliver a state-of-the-art learning facility designed to inspire the next generation of innovators.