Project Role & Details

Owner:  Gratz Barn House
Location: Viroqua, WI

This project consisted of repurposing an aged ag barn frame structure to a fully code compliant residential house. We worked with a barn frame repurposing contractor (also the owner) who identified an existing barn frame in IL. The following design steps summarize Beier Engineering’s barn to house conversion:

  • Existing Barn Review; Condition inspection, inventory, and label the existing barn frame members and joint connections
  • Design the new foundation of the proposed reconstructed barn house on which the frame would sit
  • Design the interior floors and levels to the floor plan the owner desired
  • Incorporate the existing barn frame structural members into that layout
  • Full structural analysis of existing barn frames and proposed house for permitting
  • Produce Permitting Plan Set

The owner/contractor deconstructed the existing barn and frames in IL, transported the frames to Wi and re-erected the post/frame structural barn skeleton on the new foundation. The roof and exterior walls of the building consisted of SIP (Structural Insulated Panels) which provided the skeleton covering and the required insulation. The existing barn frame erection was performed by the contractor/owner with assistance from many Amish neighbors making the events a true “barn raising”.