The Wisconsin Center
Downtown Milwaukee’s state-of-the-art convention facility, is a design-build project which highlights GRAEF’s expertise in innovative structural design. The building is three levels and covers a four-square-block area. The third level exhibit space is large enough to hold two 747s airplanes or 550 city buses and is accessible to semi-trailer trucks for loading and unloading of exhibit materials.
The design group, collectively known as D.4 Associates, consisted of GRAEF; Affiliated Engineers, Inc.; Engberg Anderson Design Partnership; and Thompson Ventulett, Stainback & Associates. The construction team of Clark/Hunzinger completed the design-build team.
Constructed on a landfill site, the Wisconsin Center uses a mixed structural system of cast-in-place concrete, precast concrete, and steel to support an excess of 350 million pounds. The exhibit hall is designed to support a live load of 350 pounds per square foot. Additionally, part of the exhibit hall spans 140 feet over a ballroom, making vibration analysis critical. The roof is a long span structure containing 14-foot deep trusses and spanning up to 180 feet.
Awards:
- ACEC WI – Engineering Excellence, Honor Award
- WRMCA – Best of Region
- WRMCA – Best Municipal Project
- Wisconsin Concrete Masonry Concrete Trowel Award
- DBIA Best Public Project ( National award)
Other Projects
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Project Data
$170 Million Project Cost
700,000 Square Feet
GRAEF Services
Structural Engineering
The Wisconsin Center Contact
