Building Info

515-519 E. Wisconsin Ave. Photo by Mariiana Tzotcheva.
  • Address:
    515-519 E. Wisconsin Ave.
  • Taxkey:
    3920847000
  • Architect:
    James Knox Taylor / Willoughby J. Edbrooke
  • Architectural Style:
    Richardsonian Romanesque
  • Status:
  • Assessment:
    Tax-Exempt
  • Year Built:

In 1975 the building received an award from the General Services Administration (GSA) for being the cleanest and best maintained federally-owned building. The building received the No. 1 White Glove award (Large Group Category). The building had also received the award in 1970.

From Guides to Historic Milwaukee: Juneautown Walking Tour by Mary Ellen Pagel and Virginia Palmer (1965)…

Milwaukee’s Federal Building is the work of a Washington architect employed by the Treasury Department during the last years of the 19th century. It’s pale gray granite walls reveal the period’s increasing preference for light colors in exterior treatments, while the Wisconsin Avenue entrance portico attests to a lingering interest in Romanesque forms and details. In 1930 a five-story wing of similar style was added, extending the building to Michigan Street, and in recent months the entire structure has undergone remodeling on the interior and restoration on the exterior.

From the 1981 Landmarks Commission/Department of City Development report…

Milwaukee’s Federal Building is an excellent example of Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture. It was constructed in 1892-1899 from the plans of Willoughby J. Edbrooke, supervising architect of the Treasury Department. The building has granite walls, intersecting hipped and gabled roofs and a massive tower. The design is reminiscent of Henry Hobson Richardson’s Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The interior spaces are arranged about a vast central arcade, surrounded by broad corridors and surmounted by an iron and glass skylight. The arcade is substantially as it was at the turn of the century. So are the adjacent public areas, having many-hues terrazzo and tile floors; multi-colored marble paneling, wainscot, and door frames; paneled wood doors; and mosaic, wood-paneled, and plaster ceilings. Many of the rooms have been remodeled, but one of the most impressive, a two-story judicial chamber with oak-paneled and ceiling and intricately carved oak time, remains essentially intact.

The building was originally erected as the U.S. Post Office, Court House and Custom House. While the main Post Office and Customs now have separate quarters, it still contains a postal sub-station, the Federal courts, and offices of other Federal agencies.

A substantial addition was constructed on the south end of the building during the 1930s, and the structure now occupies a block-square site.

Photos

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Activity

IDDateTypeDescription
PWOP-19-019712019/10/15Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-19-018312019/09/27Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-19-017972019/09/25Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-19-016552019/09/04Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-19-016542019/09/04Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-19-012902019/07/19Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWEN-19-002212019/07/11Permit
ROW Excavation Non-Utility
NV_PMT-19-2032019/07/03Permit
Noise Variance Permit
PWEU-19-015822019/06/13Permit
ROW Excavation Utility
PWOP-19-005022019/04/13Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWEU-19-010142019/04/12Permit
ROW Excavation Utility
PWOP-19-004322019/03/29Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWMH-19-000892019/03/13Permit
Meter Hood Requests
PWOP-19-003282019/03/09Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-19-003272019/03/09Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-19-002042019/02/15Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-19-002022019/02/15Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-19-002032019/02/15Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWEC-19-002802019/02/08Permit
ROW Excavation City Contract
PWOP-18-018612018/12/04Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWEN-18-004402018/11/01Permit
ROW Excavation Non-Utility
PWOP-18-016532018/10/23Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-18-013662018/09/07Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit
PWOP-18-011552018/08/08Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-18-010282018/07/18Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-18-010292018/07/18Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-18-009122018/06/23Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-18-008812018/06/19Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-18-008802018/06/19Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-18-008352018/06/12Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-18-007652018/06/02Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-18-006902018/05/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
MBC-18-000012018/05/01Permit
Masonry Building Cleaning.
ELEC-18-020102018/04/02Permit
Electrical Permit.
PWOP-18-002962018/03/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
NV_PMT-18-92018/03/22Permit
Noise Variance Permit.
PWOP-17-018372017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018382017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018452017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018392017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018362017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018422017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018442017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018402017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018282017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018342017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018412017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018292017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018352017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWOP-17-018432017/12/22Permit
ROW Occupancy Permit.
PWEN-17-003282017/07/22Permit
ROW Excavation Non-Utility.
PWEN-17-000312017/01/31Permit
ROW Excavation Non-Utility.
IDDateDescriptionType

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Building data on this page, including assessment information, was last updated on September 6, 2020

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