Northwestern Mutual joined by five dozen Milwaukee and Wisconsin-based companies for downtown development
Group includes more than three dozen small business enterprises to help company meet hiring promises
NML Southeast campus view
Milwaukee, Jan. 21, 2015 – Northwestern Mutual today announced nearly five dozen local and Wisconsin-based companies, including more than three dozen small business enterprises (SBEs), have joined the design and construction team for the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons. The new hires join the dozens of local companies and SBEs that completed previous work related to decoupling and deconstruction of Northwestern Mutual’s east office building, utility relocation, and other work to prepare for construction.
The companies will play prominent roles in bringing the 32-story, 1.1 million-square-foot project to life over the next three years, according to Sandy Botcher, head of Northwestern Mutual’s downtown campus development project.
“A tremendous amount of enthusiasm exists around this project,” said Botcher. “We’re excited to partner with dozens of companies and thousands of people who also call this city their home and will be able to say proudly that they played an important role in the largest construction project in Milwaukee in the past 40 years.”
The companies will also help Northwestern Mutual meet its commitment to the City of Milwaukee to tap SBEs for 25 percent of the project costs and utilize city residents through the Resident Preference Program (RPP) for 40 percent of the hours worked on the project. As of June 30, 2014, Northwestern Mutual had exceeded both the 25 percent SBE and 40 percent RPP thresholds.
“From day one, we said we needed the community and our fellow businesses, especially local companies, to be a partner in this process,” said Botcher. “We believe those partnerships will lead the way in creating more jobs and moving our economy forward.”
The new companies hired to work on the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons will perform work ranging from foundation, architecture and building automation, to plumbing, electrical and mechanical work.
A complete list of companies who are partnering with Northwestern Mutual can be found here.
Outreach Results in Jobs for Milwaukee Residents
Over the past several months, Northwestern Mutual partnered with its development manager, Hines, as well as Prism Technical and the general contractor team, Gilbane | C.G. Schmidt, to share the upcoming opportunities with SBEs and Milwaukee residents.
Botcher said the company proactively engaged local chambers of commerce, numerous industry representatives, and more than 100 community-based organizations to ensure the project includes significant participation from diverse segments of the Milwaukee community.
Additionally, 15 informational sessions were held to highlight contracting opportunities (including four sessions for SBEs and two matchmaking sessions), all of which were attended by more than 300 businesses and organizations. The company also worked closely with the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/BIG STEP and Milwaukee Common Council leaders to host a series of workforce fairs throughout the city aimed at connecting residents to apprenticeship preparation and career opportunities related to the development.
“Our focus has been and will continue to be providing as many opportunities as possible to local companies and SBEs and Milwaukee residents,” Botcher said.
Construction of the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017. The site is currently being prepared for vertical construction that is expected to begin in February when crews undertake a 24-hour concrete pour, the largest continuous pour conducted in the state of Wisconsin.
Once completed, the project will preserve 1,100 downtown jobs while adding 1,900 new ones. It will also welcome residents and visitors to the city and anchor Milwaukee’s lakefront development.
For more information about the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons, visit www.NorthwesternMutual.com/BuildingMKE.
About Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for nearly 160 years. Our financial representatives build relationships with clients through a distinctive planning approach that integrates risk management with wealth accumulation, preservation and distribution. With more than $217 billion in assets, $26 billion in revenues and more than $1.5 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.2 million people who rely on us for insurance and investment solutions, including life, disability and long-term care insurance; annuities; trust services; mutual funds; and investment advisory products and services.
Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, and its subsidiaries. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a comprehensive approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; and the Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company.
Project Renderings
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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