Schreiber releases plans for new building

GREEN BAY - After months of waiting, we now know what Schreiber Foods' new building in downtown Green Bay will look like.

The company released plans Monday for its new global technology center and home office.

The building will be on the site of the old Port Plaza Mall/Washington Commons.

It's an example of out with the old and in with the new.

The site has been busy all day long, as crews continue to clear the way for a new downtown neighbor.

Schreiber Foods released the drawings Monday.

• Click here to see renderings of the site plan and views of the planned building

Company officials say the $50 million complex will have brick, limestone and plenty of glass.

"It will be an L shape; there will be some green space. It's an attractive building," said Andrew Tobisch, Schreiber Foods communications director.

The campus will feature a five-story tower, a four-story section and a courtyard. There will be green space across from the WaterMark project.

"It's not going to be a public park, but at the same time you could walk through there, and enjoy that from a walking perspective through downtown Green Bay," said Tobisch.

"That will be maintained and owned by Schreiber. But they are a community partner. We talked to them about having events for the downtown businesses. They're very open to that," said Jim Schmitt, Green Bay mayor.

Schmitt says it has been eight years since the first informal talks about bringing Schreiber downtown.

Schmitt says this new headquarters will be the perfect fit.

"When you really look at where downtown is going to be, you need companies like Schreiber, you need buildings like they have that have some real connectivity to the KI Convention Center, as well as the south side, north side, of downtown, the waterfront," said Schmitt.

"We weren't really trying to make an architectural statement. But at the same time, we wanted something that was going to look very nice to fit with downtown Green Bay, and we think we've been able to do that," said Tobisch.

For Schreiber Foods, its part of the new-look downtown is taking shape.

"It's really going to enable us to bring our partners under one roof and create additional value for our customers which is really what this is all about," said Tobisch.

The City of Green Bay is scheduled to turn over the property to Schreiber on June 22.

In the meantime, crews continue to dismantle the old mall.

• Click here to see what the site looks like now as demolition continues

FOX 11 has been told the J.C. Penney building will soon be coming down.

"What we'll see over the upcoming weeks is the concrete foundation for this building being taken out. They will be using some of the caissons from this building for the Schreiber building," said Jeff Mirkes, Downtown Green Bay, Inc.

Schreiber officials say they hope to break ground for the project in July.

The company says construction should take about a year and a half.