GRAEF is thrilled to announce that the Baird Center Expansion in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been honored with the Outstanding Structure award at the prestigious Structural Engineering Excellence (SEE) Awards. Presented annually by the National Council of Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA), these awards celebrate projects that push the boundaries of engineering ingenuity, technical prowess, and innovative design.

The $456 million renovation and expansion of the Baird Center was a testament to the extraordinary collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills of our structural engineering team. Completed in May 2024, the project transformed the facility into a state-of-the-art convention center ready to host the Republican National Convention (RNC) and beyond.

The project’s structural demands were formidable, requiring cutting-edge solutions to achieve the design goals. Among the most notable challenges:

• Infilling Beneath an Existing Exhibit Hall: Engineers integrated three levels of parking and two levels of conference rooms beneath the existing exhibit hall while maintaining its functionality.
• Pile Cap Lowering and Column Removal: Live loads were supported as the team strategically lowered existing pile caps and removed a column to reconfigure the space.
• Cantilevered North-End Extension: The expansion’s exhibit hall extends 300,000 square feet, with a stunning cantilever over the north sidewalk, made possible through advanced structural modeling and precision engineering.

Several groundbreaking strategies played a pivotal role in the project’s success:

• Full-Story Truss Design: Limited structural depth was ingeniously addressed using a full-story truss to support the exhibit level’s concrete structure, creating an awe-inspiring feature visible through the exhibit hall windows.
• PS=0 Joint Coupler: This cutting-edge technology ensured seamless integration and compliance with seismic requirements, adding resilience to the structure.
• GRAEFaccelerate® System: Our proprietary system expedited the design and detailing phases, ensuring the center was completed on time for the 2024 RNC.

The Baird Center now stands as a testament to the transformative power of structural engineering, offering expanded exhibit spaces, reimagined conference areas, and an iconic design that enhances Milwaukee’s urban fabric. This award underscores GRAEF’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in structural engineering.

We are proud to have been part of a project that showcases our expertise and creativity, contributing to a landmark structure that will serve as a cornerstone of the community for years to come.

GRAEF extends its gratitude to NCSEA for recognizing the innovative solutions and technical excellence that defined the Baird Center Expansion.