Wisconsin Center District Announces Construction Manager for Wisconsin Center Expansion

MILWAUKEE, WI – (January 10, 2020) – Wisconsin Center District (WCD) President and CEO Marty Brooks announced today that the construction management bid for the expansion of the Wisconsin Center has been awarded to the team of Gilbane Building Co. and CD Smith (Gilbane Smith).

“The selection of construction manager is a critical milestone in the continued progression of the expansion of the Wisconsin Center. We had several very well qualified bids,” said Brooks. “The combined experience that Gilbane Smith have working together, along with their competitive fee structure, was what truly set them apart.”

Gilbane Smith and the architecture team of tvsdesign and EUA will immediately begin working together to start formulating a design to fulfil the needs of the expanded Wisconsin Center, and determine an accurate cost estimate for the project. Renderings of the proposed expansion are expected early in the second quarter of this year.

“With CAA/ICON, tvsdesign/EUA, and Gilbane Smith on board, I feel confident that we have assembled an incredible core group of experts. This is the best possible team to lead us into the future of creating and building a facility that is transformational to Milwaukee and Wisconsin,” said Brooks.

“It is a great honor to be part of this world-class team and continue Gilbane Smith’s longstanding commitment to Milwaukee and southeast Wisconsin,” said Gilbane Smith Principal in Charge and Senior Vice President Adam Jelen.

Not unlike the process for selecting the architecture team, the construction manager selection process was carefully regulated and vetted. Invitations to Bid (ITBs) were issued November 25, 2019, and in person interviews were conducted Monday and Tuesday of this week. The selection was based on the following criteria:

• Similar Project Experience
• Preconstruction Approach
• Personnel Experience and Commitment
• Technology Approach
• Project Approach
• Schedule Approach
• Inclusion Goal Approach
• Predevelopment Fee
• Preconstruction Fee
• Construction Manager Fee
• Change Order Fee
• Staffing Costs

The work completed to-date in pursuit of an expanded Wisconsin Center, including hiring CAA/ICON as the owner’s rep, and awarding bids to the architecture and construction management teams, is categorized as preconstruction and is required to develop an accurate cost estimate. The Wisconsin Center District Board is expected to vote on a financing package for the project at an April 2, 2020, meeting.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.