Village of Germantown Department of Public Works Facility

In response to growing operational needs and aging infrastructure, the Village of Germantown embarked on what would become the largest capital project in its history—a modern, centralized Department of Public Works (DPW) facility. GRAEF partnered with the Village to develop a future-ready solution that would not only replace the outdated and undersized existing garage but also consolidate key services to improve efficiency and service delivery.

Early in the process, GRAEF led a comprehensive programming phase, inventorying the Village’s vehicles and equipment. It quickly became clear that the current DPW site lacked the space to support the new building footprint, vehicle access, and essential outdoor areas—both for present needs and anticipated growth. In response, GRAEF assisted the Village in evaluating alternative properties across Germantown, ultimately identifying a suitable 37-acre site that offered the necessary space and strategic location.

The new site also allowed the Village to co-locate its recycling center functions with other public works operations, creating a unified campus that would streamline logistics and improve convenience for residents. In collaboration with Moore Construction Services, GRAEF designed a comprehensive facility that includes all essential DPW yard functions, plus a new salt shed, a dedicated fueling station, a resident drop-off recycling center, and advanced brine-making capabilities for winter maintenance.

The new facility spans 141,000 square feet across three buildings and supports the Village’s four primary DPW divisions: engineering; water utility; wastewater utility; and highways, parks, buildings and grounds. GRAEF’s multi-disciplinary team—working together from a single local office—provided integrated services that reduced costs, improved communication, and ensured a cohesive final product.

Construction broke ground in December 2022 and was completed by fall 2024, with the official ribbon-cutting held in September. Despite challenges such as supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team remained on schedule by issuing strategic bid packages that prioritized long-lead items, key infrastructure components, TID road development, and decommissioning of the old facility.

The result is a state-of-the-art DPW campus that consolidates operations, enhances workflow, and positions Germantown for long-term growth. With features like drive-thru truck wash bays, a high-tech vehicle maintenance shop, and dedicated workshops for each division, the new facility significantly improves the department’s ability to respond to resident needs with greater speed and efficiency.

Today, the Germantown DPW facility stands as a transformative investment in municipal infrastructure and public service.