Republic Chophouse is an upscale restaurant in downtown Green Bay, serving artisan-aged beef alongside an eclectic wine list. It offers guests an air of sophistication and low-light ambiance.

After roughly a decade in business, Republic’s owner wanted to expand his facility to accommodate larger groups, up to 100-150 people, for special occasions and events. He also sought to add an 18 x 40-foot indoor patio.

To accomplish its goals, Republic ownership purchased an adjoining, historical building to the north of its existing space. A brick façade between the two structures first had to be removed before the project could begin in earnest.

The Walls & Ceilings division of H.J. Martin and Son was tasked with handling the steel-stud framing and drywall to bring the Republic Chophouse addition together with the existing facility. A fast-track project, the company finished all of its work over nine weeks, from the October bid date to completion in December 2018, using a crew that ranged in size from 2-5 employees.

Part of the installation was interior, cold-formed metal framing that could carry heavy interior glass windows. Above the first-floor canopy, 16-gauge metal studs that were 39-feet tall and 8-inches wide were used.

Another challenge was taking a 100-year-old structure and updating it with new finishes that matched the existing.

H.J. Martin and Son worked around the times that the restaurant was open each day. The ability to schedule work during off-hours allowed Republic Chophouse to maintain its normal operations and not lose any revenue due to closure.