Construction Milestone Reached on $456M Wisconsin Center Expansion

The Wisconsin Center District recently gathered with state and local leaders to celebrate the topping-off milestone for the expanded Baird Center in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This achievement marks the completion of the steel structure of the expansion. Gilbane Building Company and C.D. Smith Construction, who have formed a joint venture as Gilbane | Smith Wisconsin Center Expansion, are the general contractors on the project.

Upon completion, this monumental expansion project will nearly double the convention center’s size, bringing the expo hall to 300,000 square feet, adding 24 new meeting rooms, six additional loading docks and a rooftop ballroom with spectacular outdoor terraces. In addition to the expansion, the project includes a complete renovation of the existing convention center.

The expansion project includes a comprehensive economic inclusion plan by committing to 25% minority-owned businesses, 5% women-owned businesses and 1% disabled veteran-owned businesses. The project has also committed to a residents-preferred program of 40%, which means that at least $40 million of the $100 million in anticipated construction wages will be earned by residents of the city of Milwaukee.

Upon opening in May 2024, the expanded Wisconsin Center is projected to support 2,300 full-time equivalent jobs throughout the state of Wisconsin.