Update – July 25
According to a report on dailyreporter.com, a mass timber building in Milwaukee planned by Madison-based real estate developer The Neutral Project could become the tallest timber building in the world and in the state of Wisconsin. The development will replace the Marcus Performing Arts Center parking garage site. The real estate developers have recently presented their project.
The developer proposed the construction of multiple mixed-use buildings. In total, over US-$700 million (€646 million) will be invested according to officials. The project will have several phases and will include up to 750 residential units, 190,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail space, 300 hotel rooms, 1,100 structured parking spaces as well as public plazas and walkways. The project team includes MGA, HGA, Gehl People, C.D. Smith and Thornton Thomasetti. According to dailyreporter.com, the city is proposing a one-year exclusive right to negotiation to the real estate developers.
Milwaukee’s mayor, Cavalier Johnson, said that the project is in line with his goal to increase the city’s population to one million. “To do that, we need to be aggressive and reach for new heights,” he said in a statement.
June 25, 2024
The building will offer a total of 383 luxury apartments © The Neutral Project
Two years after the completion of Milwaukee's first wooden skyscraper, the Ascent Tower, construction is about to begin on another hybrid wooden building. Once completed, The Edison will be 32 stories tall.
In the US metropolis of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one timber construction record after the other is set. It has now been two years since the 25-story residential tower Ascent was inaugurated. Standing 86.6 meters tall, the building is built mostly in cross-laminated and glue-laminated timber. Only its foundation and the elevator and stair shafts are made of concrete. At the time, the skyscraper was officially considered the world’s tallest hybrid timber building.
Construction work on a new world record-breaking building is scheduled to start this year. Originally planned as a 15-story residential building by Michael Green Architecture, it was decided last year that The Edison would have 32 stories in total. As a result, it will be seven stories higher than the existing wooden high-rise in Milwaukee’s cultural district of East Town. The project’s developer is The Neutral Project, which will also be responsible for renting out the 383 luxury apartments. According to Daniel Glaessl, partner of The Neutral Project, a total of 2,800 m³ of wood will be used for the building. The developer wants to attract future tenants – and investors – with spacious living spaces, spectacular views and visible-quality wooden beams.
Planned completion in 2026
The project will also feature further amenities including a cafe, fitness center, spa, pool, sauna and a sky lounge, a dog park, movie room, community garden and entertainment deck with kitchens as well as an outdoor sport court. With the completion of The Edison being scheduled for 2026, two wooden skyscrapers will dominate Milwaukee’s skyline.
