Baird Center expansion reaches substantial completion Four years ago, the Baird Center expansion was nothing more than a parking lot and a pipe dream. Now, the construction of the $456 million project has reached substantial completion, meaning the building is fit for its intended use. Employees can enter the building without protective equipment as it…
Platt Construction Flagger Deborah Green went away to college to pursue her dreams and study theatre. College wasn’t working out due to financial reasons, and Green moved home. Green’s father and uncles worked in construction, and Green says her father used to share stories about his days on the job site, specifically about a particular…
C.D. Smith Labor Journeywoman After finishing two degrees, Ashley Szweda decided to explore a career in construction after a friend encouraged her to do so. “One of my girlfriends was a sheet metal worker. I had just moved back here from Texas, and she’s like ‘Ashley, go take the test! Just be a laborer, go…
Doral Corporation Journeywoman Ironworker Becoming a journeywoman ironworker was not the original plan for Chelsea Tappa. “Although if I had known about ironworkers, it probably would have been… I always liked to build things and climb on things when I was little,” Tappa said. Tappa originally went to college to pursue a career as a…
C.D. Smith Journeywoman Carpenter LaSonya Donald was training to be an automotive technician and studying human services at Milwaukee Area Technical College when she enrolled in her first carpentry class. “I actually fell in love with it, so I stuck with it,” Donald said. Upon graduating, Donald enrolled in BIG STEP, or Building Industry Group…
P.L. Freeman Co. Third-Year Sheet Metal Apprentice Jennifer Bruss is a third-year sheet metal apprentice working on the Wisconsin Center expansion project. She found her way to construction by way of her father, a master carpenter. “Just seeing what my dad did and seeing how much detail was in the finished work, I was always…
Self-taught artist and multi-media storyteller Rosy Petri was born and raised in Milwaukee. But her love for working with fabric as a medium for her art is deeply rooted in the South and her family history. “Both of my grandmothers were quilters,” Petri shared. “One was a very traditional piecing quilter. She did Baltimore album…
Nicolas Lampert is well known throughout the Milwaukee community as an artist, published author and influential art instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. But spend a little time getting to know him and you will discover he sees himself more as a participant and chronicler of the fight for social justice. “Art is, in my…
Baird Center public art will tell stories of Milwaukee’s rich culture and history When a visitor enters through Baird Center’s main entrance, they are immediately greeted by Syl the security guard’s watchful eye. The hyperrealistic sculpture, crafted by Serbian-American artist and Milwaukee resident Marc Sijan, is a Baird Center delight, bringing both joy and a…
Reclaimed urban wood on the Baird Center’s collaborative stairs is promoting conservation and connection Nearly 20 years ago, the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that kills ash trees, was discovered in the United States. The insect, native to Asia, was devastating ash trees across the Midwest, especially in urban areas and along roadsides. Despite…
Curated pieces were selected by a diverse panel of Milwaukee arts professionals MILWAUKEE– (January 22, 2024) – As part of the $456 million Baird Center expansion, 21 artists, many of whom are local, were selected to create artwork to display in the expanded Baird Center north building and existing south building. The majority of artists…
Keeping momentum and morale high for nearly 500 craftspeople working on the Baird Center expansion is a top priority for Wisconsin Center District leadership. On December 18, a special break with cookies, hot cocoa and coffee was provided, but what the labor force didn’t know was that a special guest would be serving up the…
Baird Center expansion to be certified as a Sensory Inclusive™ venue Attending a sporting event, concert or expo can be truly exhilarating. Some people love to walk into a live events venue and be greeted with flashing lights, loud music and thousands of people milling about. Nevertheless, a fun and exciting atmosphere to some can…
How Levy Restaurants is leading the charge in its composting and food waste reduction efforts Levy Restaurants, the Baird Center’s exclusive food and beverage provider, is known for creating exceptional cuisine for every type of event. From specialty salads to decadent desserts, Levy serves flavorful meals to thousands of guests at Baird Center, Miller High…
The Baird Center was awarded a bronze medal in the “Best Convention Center-Midwest” category in the 2023 Northstar Stella Awards, presented by Northstar Meetings Group. The awards recognize organizations across the globe that consistently deliver sensational service in the meetings and events industry. Northstar combines public planner voting and third-party objective planner voting to determine…
In the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wisconsin Center District (WCD) President and CEO Marty Brooks acknowledged the importance of constructing a building with the future in mind. Brooks committed to making the expanded Baird Center a model of sustainability for event and entertainment venues. By integrating cutting-edge features like an underground stormwater retention system…
Dozens of people from the Greater Milwaukee area gathered at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Saturday, August 19 in the hopes of starting a new career or finding a fun part-time job. With the Baird Center expansion just a few months away, the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) held an all-venue hiring event to start gearing…
Use of Low-E and bird-friendly glass in $456 million expansion project part of Wisconsin Center District’s commitment to sustainability Most people don’t get excited about glass. But talk to Jim Longley about how the glass in the Baird Center expansion helps protect the environment and you’ll quickly learn glass is, “kind of cool.” As the…
MILWAUKEE– (May 12, 2023) – On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, The Wisconsin Center District (WCD), with the help of its construction management team Gilbane I Smith installed the final piece of structural steel to complete the frame of the $456 million Baird Center expansion and celebrated with a formal ceremony. Ceremony speakers included WCD President…
One non-profit organization will receive a complimentary gala in Baird Center’s spectacular rooftop Baird Ballroom MILWAUKEE– (January 16, 2024) – After a wildly successful first year, Baird Center is proud to announce the launch of its second annual Gala Giveaway contest. Area 501(c)(3) organizations are invited to apply to win a complimentary gala in Baird…
Baird Center expansion project surpasses one million worker hours On October 28, 2021, every member of the Wisconsin Center District leadership team was handed a navy blue shovel with the words “Building More” etched into the handle. City leaders, WCD board members and staff gathered on the site of the convention center’s former parking lot…
How the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) program is helping diversify talent on the job-site When the Wisconsin Center District was given the green light to expand the Baird Center (formerly the Wisconsin Center), its leadership committed to ambitious diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals for the project. However, once the hiring of construction and trades…
United Way and UPAF to benefit from proceeds of May 16, 2024 celebration MILWAUKEE– (October 16, 2023) – The $456 million dollar Baird Center expansion will be opening in magnificent fashion with a not-to-be-missed gala celebration on May 16, 2024. Held in the new, spectacular rooftop Baird Ballroom with its breathtaking views of the Milwaukee…
MILWAUKEE – (October 9, 2023) –The Baird Center, which is undergoing a $456 million expansion, will host a spectacular gala in the new, state-of-the-art rooftop Baird Ballroom on May 16, 2024. In order to welcome in the new era of the Baird Center for all of Milwaukee, an all-star production team has been assembled to…
When originally opened as the Midwest Express Center in 1998, the Wisconsin Center was designed with a Phase III expansion in mind, extending to the north to Kilbourn Avenue. In this or a fourth phase, the center would ultimately to be connected to the Arena and Auditorium. However, this expansion was delayed by the tumultuous…
April 15, 2020 Employment Impact: The Wisconsin Center Expansion Project will entail over 1100 construction jobs on-site and as many off-site, generating more than $100 million in wages to help restart the economy. After completion, expanded operations are expected to bring in more than 100,000 new visitors, nearly double visitor spending within five years, and…
Governance Committee to provide final approval before issuing bonds MILWAUKEE (April 2, 2020) – The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) Board approved a resolution authorizing the District to move forward with the $419.9 million convention center expansion, as well as restructuring of existing debt, increasing the Milwaukee County hotel tax, and extension of the food and…
The Wisconsin Center Expansion Project architecture team of tvsdesign and EUA has released renderings of the proposed design. Click here to see images
At a meeting this morning, Wisconsin Center District (WCD) President and CEO Marty Brooks announced that the architecture team of tvsdesign and EUA has been selected to design the expansion of the Wisconsin Center. “Today’s announcement is a critical milestone in this exciting and ambitious process,” said Brooks. “The expanded Wisconsin Center will be a…
August 16, 2019 In a meeting this morning,the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) voted unanimously to pass a resolution regarding expansion of the Wisconsin Center. The resolution raises the cap on agreements which the President and CEO and Board Chairman are authorized to enter into, to $1 million. “Today’s vote was…
MILWAUKEE (March 27, 2020) – The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) and City of Milwaukee are working together to identify a clear path toward advancing the expansion of the Wisconsin Center while providing a new revenue source for the City of Milwaukee via a proposed Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program. “One of the purposes…
Expanded building expected to attract more than 100,000 new out-of-state visitors to Milwaukee annually MILWAUKEE – March 6, 2020 – The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) revealed renderings of its proposed expansion project and outlined the project’s financial funding models during its board meeting today. The expansion will double the square footage of the convention center…
February 27, 2020 In a landmark release, the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) has announced a minimum wage increase to $15 per hour. In addition, those currently making up to $18.50 per hour will receive no less than a $1.50 per hour wage increase, all effective July 1, 2020. The WCD owns and operates the Wisconsin…
February 11, 2020 The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) received approval from the Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday morning certifying the use of state moral obligation to support the proposed Wisconsin Center expansion. The City of Milwaukee is the sponsoring municipality for the state’s moral obligation on bonds the WCD will issue to finance the convention…
January 29, 2020 The Wisconsin Center District has named five consultant subcontractors for preconstruction work on the long-planned expansion of the Wisconsin Center convention facility in downtown Milwaukee. The following companies have been selected for specific roles in the project: The WCD is required to ensure that at least 25% of its construction spending goes to…
January 10, 2020 Wisconsin Center District (WCD) President and CEO Marty Brooks announced today that the construction management bid for the expansion of the Wisconsin Center has been awarded to the team of Gilbane Building Company and CD Smith (Gilbane Smith). “The selection of construction manager is a critical milestone in the continued progression of…
December 10, 2019 A Spending and Fiscal Impact Analysis conducted by HVS verifies that Wisconsin Center expansion will meet or exceed the criteria for State moral obligation underwriting of project bonds. Specifically, HVS determined that the Wisconsin Center District can reasonably expect that an expanded Wisconsin Center will: The full report: 2019 Spending and Fiscal…
June 25, 2019 The Wisconsin Legislature voted today to accept “moral obligation” to back up Wisconsin Center completion project bonds, securing investor confidence and enhancing the Wisconsin Center District’s borrowing rates and capacity. Moral obligation underwriting is a pledge by the State to appropriate money toward unmet WCD debt obligations in the unlikely event the…
May 10, 2019 In a Board Meeting this morning, the Wisconsin Center District shared an updated timeline for the funding portion of the completion of the Wisconsin Center. An RFQ was publicized to financial institutions in mid-April with a deadline of noon on May 1, 2019. Thirty four responses were received, with ten respondents offering…
April 15, 2019 Upon receiving results of a Tax Projection Study, the Wisconsin Center District issues a Request for Qualifications for financial services related to crafting a financing plan to expand and complete the Wisconsin Center. Tax Projection Study