New park pavilion and outdoor performance area part of village-wide efforts to upgrade community resources

Nicholas & Associates and officials from the Village of Sussex held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday, Aug. 7, for The Ridge at Village Park, a new 10,100-square-foot freestanding pavilion with 14,500 square feet of covered outdoor space and an open-air stage area at Sussex Village Park in Sussex, Wis. The Ridge will also feature an indoor community room complete with a kitchen, as well as indoor and outdoor restrooms. Construction is slated to begin in mid-August and be completed in time for use next summer.

Designed by Kahler-Slater, Inc., The Ridge is a key element of a broader, village-wide effort to enhance community resources and serve as a vibrant gathering place.

“The old pavilion was an important part of our community for so many years, hosting events like Lions Daze, Spooky Sussex, Make-A-Wish and family gatherings,” said Anthony LeDonne, president of the Village of Sussex. “But its time has come to an end, and the new Ridge will bring more modern amenities to the park. My hopes are to make events virtually rainproof by providing this new indoor-outdoor space, while keeping our small-town atmosphere. This one-of-a-kind building for Sussex will be able to host all the old events as well as new ones, including indoor weddings, corporate events and more.”

The Ridge at Village Park is one of two projects Nicholas & Associates was awarded through a $7.8 million contract with the Village of Sussex for community improvements. Earlier this year, the firm started work on a new Sussex Parks Maintenance Facility.

“Nicholas & Associates is deeply committed to building and investing in the greater Milwaukee area, which is like our second home,” said Chris Coleman, president of The Nicholas Family of Companies, parent company of Nicholas & Associates. “Our work supports our neighbors, and we take great pride in delivering projects like The Ridge at Village Park that improve the quality of life for communities.”

About Nicholas & Associates

Founded in 1978, Nicholas & Associates is a comprehensive construction management firm providing design/build and general contracting services for projects in the recreation, education, municipal and mixed-use sectors. The family-run firm transforms visions to build environments with a personal approach, making it “distinctly different and deliberately personal.” Nicholas & Associates has offices in the Chicagoland area, Tampa and Milwaukee with a growing national portfolio of projects. To learn more, visit nicholasfoc.com.

Nicholas + Associates_The Ridge at Village Park Groundbreaking_Sussex, Wis.: Team members from the Village of Sussex and Nicholas & Associates at the groundbreaking for The Ridge at Village Park in Sussex, Wis.

Nicholas + Associates_The Ridge at Village Park Rendering_Sussex, Wis.: A rendering of The Ridge at Village Park, a new 10,100-square-foot freestanding pavilion with 14,500 square feet of covered outdoor space and an open-air stage area at Sussex Village Park in Sussex, Wis.

Nicholas + Associates_The Ridge at Village Park Groundbreaking_Village Administrator Jeremy Smith Speaking_Sussex, Wis.: Village Administrator Jeremy Smith speaks at the groundbreaking for The Ridge at Village Park on Aug. 7.