A 55-story tower would be Milwaukee's tallest building. Here are downtown's other skyscrapers
If it's built − and that's a pretty big "if" − a 55-story apartment tower tentatively proposed for downtown Milwaukee would be Wisconsin's tallest building.
How tall are downtown's other skyscrapers?
The tallest is the 42-story U.S. Bank Center, with that office tower at 777 E. Wisconsin Ave. reaching 601 feet.
The 55-story apartment tower, part of a mixed-use project proposed at Marcus Performing Art Center's parking structure, 1001 N. Water St., would top out at 613 feet. That's according to conceptual plans from its developer, Madison-based The Neutral Project LLC.
The Neutral Project's plans could change. The Common Council must first grant the firm a one-year exclusive right to negotiate a purchase of the city-owned site − which some council members might oppose. Meanwhile, the firm hopes to soon begin construction on The Edison, a 32-story, 375-foot apartment high-rise with 383 units at 1005 N. Edison St.
Here's a roundup of downtown's 10 tallest buildings.
U.S. Bank Center
As mentioned, the 1.1-million-square foot office tower is 601 feet tall, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
It opened in 1973 as the First Wisconsin Center, named for the bank which developed the building and used much of it for its headquarters. First Wisconsin National Bank in 1988 changed it name to Firstar Bank, with the building also changing its name. The office tower was renamed U.S. Bank Center after a 2002 merger of U.S. Bank and Firstar Bank.
The building got a big boost in 2023 when wealth management firm Baird signed a five-year lease extension through 2033, and expanded its operations there. That deal also allowed Baird, U.S. Bank Center's largest tenant, to add its name to two of the buildings four rooftop signs.
Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons
The Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons, 800 E. Wisconsin Ave., is 554 feet high, according to the tall buildings council.
The 32-story, 1.1-million-square-foot tower and commons, which opened in 2017, is known for its curved structure and glass curtain walls.
It serves as a model for Northwestern Mutual's ongoing transformation of its 18-story, 540,000-square-foot office building, 818 E. Mason St. That project, to be completed in 2027, will allow the company to move its Franklin operations, with around 2,000 employees, to its downtown campus.
The Couture
The Couture apartment tower, 929 E. Michigan St., began moving in residents in April after nearly three years of construction. The 44-story, 322-unit high-rise is 537 feet.
The Couture proposal was unveiled by Barrett Lo Visionary Development LLC in July 2012. It was delayed in part by a court battle over claims that much of the construction site is on former Lake Michigan bed that can't be used for private development.
The Couture includes a transit concourse for The Hop street car and Milwaukee County's Connect 1 Wisconsin Avenue Bus Rapid Transit.
100 East
The 495-foot 100 East is switching from office tower to apartments.
The 35-story, 435,629-square-foot building, 100 E. Wisconsin Ave., opened in 1989 − anchored by the Michael Best law firm. Michael Best in 2020 moved to the new BMO Tower, 790 N. Water St., and other 100 East office tenants have departed.
The building was sold in August 2023 for $28.75 million to a group led by Klein Development Inc. and developer and investor John Vassallo. They plan to convert it to nearly 400 apartments.
University Club Tower
University Club Tower, a 36-story, 53-unit condominium high-rise, opened in 2007 at 825 N. Prospect Ave.
The tower, which tops off at 446 feet, was among the last large downtown condo buildings to open as the housing bubble was bursting. It was developed by Mandel Group Inc.
Associated Bank River Center
Associated Bank River Center, previously known as Milwaukee Center, is a 28-story, 373,000-square-foot office tower, 111 E. Kilbourn Ave. It is 426 feet high.
An affiliate of Green Bay-based Associated Bank bought the building, which opened in 1987, in 2016 for $60.5 million. Associated Bank moved its Milwaukee operations there and has made several improvements to help draw tenants.
411 East Wisconsin Center
411 East Wisconsin Center, 411 E. Wisconsin Ave., is a 30-story, 693,100-square-foot office tower that counts two large law firms among its anchor tenants: Quarles & Brady and von Briesen & Roper. It opened in 1985.
411 East Wisconsin Center is 408 feet. It was sold in 2017 for $124.6 million to an affiliate of Middleton Partners, a private real estate investment firm based in Northbrook, Illinois.
7Seventy7
7Seventy7 is a 35-story tower with 310 high-end apartments, 777 N. Van Buren St. It tops off at 387 feet.
Northwestern Mutual developed 7Seventy7, which opened in 2018. Its street level commercial space features Lupi and Iris restaurant and Andiamo Coffee and Tea.
Kilbourn Tower
The 33-story Kilbourn Tower is a condo high-rise that was developed at 923 E. Kilbourn Ave., just north of University Club Tower. It opened in 2005.
The 74-unit Kilbourn Tower is 380 feet high. It was developed by New Land Enterprises and Fiduciary Real Estate Development Inc.
Milwaukee City Hall
An oldie but goodie! Yes, at 353 feet, City Hall, 200 E. Wells St., edges out downtown's newest apartment high-rise, 333 Water. The latter, which developer Hines opened in June at 333 N. Water St., is 343 feet and 31 stories.
The Flemish Renaissance-style City Hall was built between 1893 and 1895.
Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A 55-story tower might join this list of Milwaukee's skyscrapers
