Top U.S. AEC firms join forces to build Wisconsin office

by arslan_ahmed | August 1, 2023 11:36 am

An exterior view rendering of the $500 million project to add a new office tower to Northwestern Mutual’s downtown Milwaukee office complex.[1]
An exterior view rendering of the $500 million project to add a new office tower to Northwestern Mutual’s downtown Milwaukee office complex.Photos by Lucas Blair Simpson © SOM.

Top architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms in the U.S. are part of the $500 million construction project for the financial services company, Northwestern Mutual’s new office tower in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Pickard Chilton and Kendall/Heaton will make the architectural team for the building. The team collaborated earlier on the architectural design of Northwestern Mutual’s Tower and Commons. Gilbane Building Company, in partnership with CG Schmidt, will serve as the general contractor and construction manager—as they did for the Tower and Commons earlier. Milwaukee-headquartered architect, EUA, with offices in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Georgia, will provide interior design services. Hines will serve as the project’s development manager and advise on all facets of the project, from design and budget, through construction and move-in.

A rendering of the new office tower with the plaza.[2]
A rendering of the new office tower with the plaza. Renderings courtesy Northwestern Mutual.

Cross Management Services, a local business management company, will recruit small business enterprises (SBEs) and residents to be involved in the project. Northwestern Mutual has committed to use SBEs for at least 25 percent of the construction and supply costs and for at least 18 percent of the professional services costs on the construction of the project.

Additional sub-contractors will be determined in the coming months. Project construction could begin as early as fall 2023, with potential occupancy in 2027.

“We’ve assembled a team that strikes a wonderful balance of world-renowned talent and local expertise for the modernization of our North Office Building,” says Rebecca Villegas, vice-president, compliance, at Northwestern Mutual. “Most of this team had the opportunity to work together to transform Milwaukee’s skyline through our Tower and Commons project, and we are excited to once again draw on their experience and expertise to double down on our commitment to Northwestern Mutual employees and to Milwaukee.”

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A rendering of the conservatory in the new office tower.[3]
A rendering of the conservatory in the new office tower.

“There are so many bright minds around the table for this project,” says Pat Ankney, principal at Kendall/Heaton Architects. “By harnessing the collective insight and talent of this team, the design, architecture, construction, and build-out phases of this redevelopment are poised to deliver an exceptional companion to the Tower and Commons, reinforcing the concept of a truly remarkable urban campus for Northwestern Mutual.”

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/northwestern-mutual-tower-modernization.jpg
  2. [Image]: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/northwestern-mutual-downtown-milwaukee-north-office-building-and-plaza.jpg
  3. [Image]: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/northwestern-mutual-north-office-building-coservatory-rendering.jpg

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