Introducing The City Center at 735

Gold’s Gym will soon open at 731 N. Water Street, a building that has been empty for 22 years. The gym will occupy five out of eight floors in the building, which was originally built as an annex to the Daniel Burnham designed First Wisconsin National Bank building next door at 735 N. Water Street. As part of the opening of Gold’s Gym, both of the First Wisconsin National Bank buildings will be rebranded as The City Center at 735.

Sheldon Oppermann, of building owner Compass Properties, took us on a tour of the nearly complete facility. Oppermann detailed the creative solutions that were needed to connect the two buildings to act as one, as well as the challenges of dealing with the need for tenant parking at a building that predates the mass proliferation of automobiles. In addition to The City Center at 735’s 300-stall parking garage across Water Street, Compass will lease at least 100 more spaces nearby connected by a valet service operated out of the first floor of The City Center.

As detailed in the photos in the gallery below, Oppermann explained to us how creative solutions were found to link the buildings together as one at the first-floor level to allow the building to have one clear lobby, as well as at the skywalk level that facilitated the opening of retail spaces on the second floor of the building (one of which is very close to being leased).

The floors available above the gym feature a riverview patio space, fireplace, large spiral staircase, and high-ceilings. Compass has originally intended this space to be condos up until 2007. They are currently marketing the space to the Harmony Initiative.

Tenants at The City Center will have a host of amenities at their disposal beyond the gym and valet parking. The building includes indoor bike parking and showers, 24/7 concierge service MyAssist (co-owned by Compass Properties’ owner The Noel Group), a proposed connection to the skywalk system, a connection to the riverwalk, and a restaurant along the riverwalk.

It’s encouraging to see The City Center at 735 take full advantage of the nearly 100-year-old building it occupies. Thanks to the cornice repairs that took place over the past few years, the Burnham-designed building maintains all of it’s historic appeal. And due to the recent investments made by Compass Properties, The City Center maintains all of the amenities and quality of a top-tier office building in Milwaukee.