2020 in Review
Take a look at the year that was in Milwaukee development.
Despite the pandemic, 2020 was a busy year for construction in Milwaukee. Our sidewalk superintendent has had plenty of different projects to cover this year. Here’s a week-by-week look at Milwaukee’s year in construction.
January 3rd: KinetiK Nears Completion
144 apartments and food hall will anchor north end of Bay View.
KinetiK on S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
January 10th: $30 Million Eagleknit A Game Changer
Wangard redevelopment in Walker’s Point a technology hub that will train minorities.
Eagleknit rendering. Rendering by Gensler.
January 17th: Symphony’s New Home Takes Shape
Steel frame rises on Wisconsin Ave., new Wells St. structure designed to match historic theater.
Future MSO Lobby. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
January 24th: North Shore’s North End Transformation
Old house will become new bank where Lower East Side meets Downtown.
Future North Shore Bank branch. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
January 31st: Good Hope Commons Opens
Apartment building is now open, library could soon follow.
Good Hope Commons. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
February 7th: Hotel Trio Keeps Climbing
Three new downtown hotels will share services, parking.
Future Hilton hotels on N. Jefferson St. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
February 14th: Inside the Bradley Symphony Center
Contractors working diligently to transform former movie palace into modern music hall with Art Deco style.
The future Allen-Bradley Hall inside the former Warner Grand Theatre. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
February 21st: The Huron Rises Above
New office building is now taller than its historic neighbors.
Huron Building Construction. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
February 28th: Quartet Nears Completion
Building will join Trio in Walker’s Point as New Land Enterprises develops sites along S. 2nd St.
Quartet nears completion. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
March 6th: Saint John’s New Tower Opens
Work remains on connector building between new building and existing campus.
Saint John’s on the Lake North Tower. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
March 13th: Rexnord’s Secret Headquarters
Company is moving HQ downtown, but still hasn’t publicly announced deal.
105-111 W. Michigan St. redevelopment works nears completion. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
March 20th: River One Rises Over Harbor District
Michels’ new office building hits the heights.
River One in the Harbor District. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
March 27th: Construction Underway on Second Phase of Wellness Commons
Project will bring investment, new office space to Lindsay Heights.
Construction of the second phase of the Innovations and Wellness Commons. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
April 3rd: St. Rita Square Nears Completion
New senior housing complex on Lower East Side appears nearly complete alongside modern version of “Little Pink Church”
St. Rita Square complex under construction. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
April 10th: Downtown Hotel Trio Takes Shape
Will DNC postponement allow hotels to open in time?
Downtown hotel trio. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
April 17th: Bucks Player’s Downtown Apartments Rise
New apartment building takes shape.
1245-1247 N. Milwaukee St. apartment building construction. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
April 24th: $33 Million School Rises in Clarke Square
Cristo Rey will become anchor in southside neighborhood.
Cristo Rey High School. Rendering by Bray Architects. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
May 1st: KinetiK Prepares for First Residents
Pre-leasing has now started for the building’s first residents.
KinetiK apartment building. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
May 8th: Five Fifty Ultra Lofts in Deer District
Apartment building provides activation to Deer District that is unusually quiet.
Five Fifty Ultra Lofts. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
May 15th: New Life for Old Main
$44 million project will convert vacant Civil War complex to veterans’ housing.
Old Main under scaffolding. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
May 22nd: The Yards Opens in Walker’s Point
Construction wrapping up as first residents move in.
The Yards apartment building. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
May 29th: The Stone-Clad Huron
New building begins to look more like its 140-year-old neighbor.
The Huron Building (left) and Mackie Building (right) are clad in stone from the same quarry. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
June 12th: Quartet Opens
New Walker’s Point apartment building is the second building developed by New Land Enterprises in the neighborhood.
Quartet apartment building. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
June 19th: Villard Commons Rises
New apartment building rises on Old North Milwaukee main street.
Villard Commons under construction at N. 37th St. and W. Villard Ave. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
June 26th: New Downtown Apartment Building Takes Shape
Bucks guard’s first Milwaukee development project takes shape.
New apartment building under construction at 1245 N. Milwaukee St. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
July 3rd: The Electric Apartments Rise
New apartment building in Historic Third Ward wraps electric substation.
New apartment building in the Historic Third Ward. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
July 10th: Apartments Rising Alongside Office Tower at River One
First phases of $100 million complex taking shape in Harbor District.
The River One complex along the Kinnickinnic River. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
July 17th: Walnut Way’s Wellness Commons Rises
Building just latest in series of projects transforming neighborhood.
Innovations and Wellness Commons phase two construction. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
July 24th: Clarke Square Apartments Open
New buildings bookend south side park, provide affordable housing.
Clarke Square Apartments building at 2331 W. Vieau Pl. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
July 31st: Walker’s Point Buildings Get New Lease on Life
Sofi Lofts taking shaping near Milwaukee River
Future Sofi Lofts Development. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
August 7th: Downtown Hotels Moving Forward
Construction near the finish line for trio of new hotels.
Downtown hotel trio. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
August 14th: Hmong High School Rises on Northwest Side
$30 million project represents latest expansion for well-regarded charter school.
Hmong American Peace Academy massing plan. Rendering by Continuum Architects + Planners.
August 21st: Employee-Owned Firm Builds New HQ
Western Building Products’ new facility nears completion.
Western Building Products development. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
August 28th: National Block Apartments Will Have Event Venue, Basement Bar
Walker’s Point building was once condemned, now another sign of rebirth of S. 5th St.
National Block Apartments. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
September 4th: Construction Underway on Largest New Urban Manufacturing Plant in US
Komatsu Mining building $285 million manufacturing and office complex in Harbor District.
Construction work at Komatsu’s South Harbor Campus. Photos by Jeramey Jannene.
September 11th: Flood Delays Opening of Bradley Symphony Center
MSO converts to virtual season, plans to open building in January.
Bradley Symphony Center under construction at 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
September 18th: The Building With a Ship Underneath
Once “the largest hardware store in the world,” soon to be apartments.
170 S. 2nd St., the future Cream City Lofts. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
September 25th: Foundation Work Underway for World’s Tallest Timber Tower
Before Ascent goes up, it has to go down.
The tower crane is being assembled for the Ascent apartment tower. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
October 2nd: Third Ward Lofts Rise
Electrically-charged development takes shape on border between Downtown and Third Ward
St. Paul and Jefferson apartment building construction. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
October 9th: Historic Church Getting New Parish Center, Renovated Monastery
St. Francis of Assisi has long been community anchor on Milwaukee’s north side.
St. Francis of Assisi Church. Renderings by MKB Architects. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
October 16th: The Architecture of a Pandemic
New Miller Park testing site opens Monday at 11 a.m.
The COVID-19 testing tent at Miller Park. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
October 23rd: BV+ Rises on Kinnickinnic Ave.
Infill project will create 18 units of housing on Bay View’s main street
BV+ under construction in Bay View. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
October 30th: THIRTEEN31 Place Takes Shape
Foundation work underway for new Walker’s Point apartment building.
The construction site at 1331 W. National Ave. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
November 6th: Komatsu Mining Campus Takes Shape
Development will anchor for Harbor District, transform Inner Harbor.
Komatsu Mining office building at South Harbor Campus. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
November 13th: Wangard Transforming Former Knitting Factory
Walker’s Point building becoming innovation hub.
Construction of the Eagleknit Innovation Hub. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
November 20th: Inside the Recount
An up-close look at how first day played out.
Milwaukee ballots await counting under seal in the Wisconsin Center. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
November 27th: Mitchell Street Mystery Buildings Exposed
Paneling has hid an Art Moderne facade since at least the 1990s.
723 W. Historic Mitchell St. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
December 4th: Viets Tower’s Rise
MSOE redeveloping 1960s residence hall into modern complex accessible to all students.
Viets Tower construction. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
December 11th: Downtown Building Stripped to Its Core
Adams Hotel will initially include 11 rooms in 100-year-old building.
Adams Hotel, 790 N. Jackson St. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
December 18th: River One Rocked by Explosion
Parking garage at core of $100 million development shows visible damage.
Visible damage to the parking garage at Michels Corp’s River One development. Photos by Jeramey Jannene.
December 25th: Rite-Hite Finds Its Footing
Foundation work underway on new corporate headquarters.
Pile drivers work on a foundation for Rite-Hite’s R&D building. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
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