Wild Rice Retreat Completed in Bayfield, Wisconsin | Kraus-Anderson
Nourishment, expression and movement are pillars of their programming and rest, rejuvenation and reconnecting to nature are just some of the byproducts of a stay at Wild Rice Retreat, a year-round wellness retreat center set along the shores of Lake Superior just outside Bayfield, Wisconsin. A thoughtful alignment of goals, collaboration and connection have gone into the construction of this unusual blend of the built and natural environment.
Developed by Heidi Zimmer of Zimmer Development and designed by Duluth-based Salmela Architect, the retreat center expansion project integrates the new clustered villages into a 114-acre natural environment. The $6 million project comprises 15 modern Scandinavian-designed, tiny house lodging units called the Nests and RicePodTM; four “Treehaus” units, two story structures with huge windows and cantilevered space, containing four bedrooms, baths and kitchen, a sauna house; as well as a new classroom and yoga studio.
It’s an unusual project for Kraus-Anderson, and one that presented unique challenges and rewards, said Project Director Gary Zifko.
Local Roots
“I was born and raised in the area and still have many family in friends up there,” said Zifko. His initial connection to the project was Jennifer Albrecht, also a Bayfield native who had previously worked with KA and Zifko while at Twin Cities-based HTG Architects. Albrecht returned to Bayfield three years ago to become Director at Wild Rice Retreat, and reconnected with Zifko as the vision of adding accommodations and additional amenities to the facility began to take shape.
Unique Challenges
“KA was hired as Construction Manager Agent without our typical site supervision,” Zifko explains. “The client, Heidi Zimmer, was an experienced developer with the intention of acting as general contractor with the goal of using as much local contractor participation as possible. Because the scope of work was larger than most of the local contractors could handle alone, KA broke scopes into smaller pieces. The client also procured most of the material directly, which also added an extra layer of coordination.” Skyrocketing lumber prices also impacted the project, which was bid in 2019 but didn’t procure lumber until mid-to-late 2020. Construction kicked off in 2020, just as the country was going into the pandemic lockdown, further adding to the complexity of the project.
Sustainability Highlights
The project is designed to compliment the retreat’s natural surroundings. Materials include locally-sourced basswood wood and Euro-styled, high-efficiency H-Windows manufactured in Ashland, WI, 20 miles from the site. Mechanical systems are tucked away in a precast vault below the main floor; and the classroom building itself sits on four concrete piers with massive LVL’s (Laminated Veneer Lumber) as the foundation structure. Buildings are heated with in-floor radiant heat, with mini-split systems for cooling, for year-round comfort. Zimmer’s goal was to create year-round lodging and to design the units to create supportive “containers” in nature for its guests. “We want every guest to be able to immerse themselves and connect to nature while being pampered by our amazingly simply yet elegant Scandinavian design,” Zimmer said.
Collaboration Brings Success
As Construction Manager, KA worked to coordinate local contractors and suppliers and help them work through issues to deliver a successful project. “As with most projects, budget was a concern and although it may have been easier to bring in larger commercial contractors from the Cities, we found the budget wouldn’t sustain it,” Zifko said. “Some of the contractors were small residential contractors that did not have much commercial experience or experience on a project this size. We worked with the local trades, suppliers and subcontractors to help them through billing procedures, insurance requirements, scheduling and phasing typical of a commercial project of this size.”
About Wild Rice Retreat
Named after its former owner and philanthropist, Mary Rice, Wild Rice Retreat creates a space for grounding the mind, body and spirit through integrative artistic and holistic life experiences for individual, group and corporate retreats. The wellness retreat center features meeting and event spaces and has an expansive kitchen, gardens, wine bar and a world-class nourishment program for serving retreat guests healthy meals. Opening in May 2021, Wild Rice Retreat will be the first wellness center of its kind in the Midwest.
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