Racine Petro
Sturtevant, WI

Project Strategy

The Petro - Racine truck stop project consists of the renovation of the existing 10,000 SF facility, and a 15,000 SF addition in Racine, Wisconsin. The facility remained in operation throughout the duration of the project. The transformation from a typical truck stop to a full-service facility for travelers is amazing. The project features a bar/lounge with indoor and outdoor seating, a large and well-equipped convenience store, retail space, food service, chiropractor’s office, a barbershop, private offices, a conference room, full-service restrooms, and resort-quality shower facilities. An Airstream travel trailer serves as a kitchen for the bar/lounge on the mezzanine level. Working with the owner’s design vision to create a comfortable, home-like environment atypical of the usual “truck stop”, the Starnet member’s design consultant chose materials with style, color preferences of the staff and office users, and maintenance in mind. In particular, the LVP was selected for its high-performance characteristics due to the heavy traffic it would endure. Begun in December 2020, the original completion date of March 2021 was delayed for seven months by a February 2021 snowstorm that caused the roof to collapse, destroying all of the previously completed work. Originally, all existing finishes were removed and the substrates self-leveled. After the roof collapse, all of the new flooring and some of the self-leveling had to be removed and replaced. As an in-service facility, construction staff had to work around staff and patrons, mobilizing and de-mobilizing multiple times. Despite logistical challenges and a significant setback, the completed project is a unique version of a ubiquitous feature of the American traveler’s landscape.