Milwaukee Business Journal names Project of the Year for 2025 Real Estate Awards
Milwaukee Business Journal names Project of the Year for 2025 Real Estate Awards
Baird Center Expansion, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
Baird Center Expansion, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
By Teddy Nykiel – Contributing writer
Apr 17, 2025
By Teddy Nykiel – Contributing writer
Apr 17, 2025
Apr 17, 2025
AT A GLANCE
AT A GLANCE
- The Baird Center expansion has been named the Project of the Year.
- The project was a $456 renovation to Milwaukee's existing convention center.
- The expansion project opened in May 2024 — in time to host events for the Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee in July 2024.
- The Baird Center expansion has been named the Project of the Year.
- The project was a $456 renovation to Milwaukee's existing convention center.
- The expansion project opened in May 2024 — in time to host events for the Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee in July 2024.
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The Baird Center expansion was a $456 renovation to Milwaukee's existing convention center, designed to boost Milwaukee’s tourism industry and economy by better equipping the city to host conventions, meetings, sporting events and more.
The expansion project opened in May 2024 — in time to host events for the Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee in July 2024.
Spanning a whopping 1.3 million total square feet, the expanded convention center's size doubled as a result of the project, which also modernized the existing convention center. The exposition hall grew by nearly 112,000 square feet to reach a total of 300,000 contiguous square feet.
The expansion also added 24 meeting rooms, bringing the total to 52; and six additional loading docks for a total of 22. It also added 400 indoor parking spaces, a second executive kitchen and a rooftop ballroom with space for up to 2,000 attendees.
The expansion project opened in May 2024 — in time to host events for the Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee in July 2024.
Spanning a whopping 1.3 million total square feet, the expanded convention center's size doubled as a result of the project, which also modernized the existing convention center. The exposition hall grew by nearly 112,000 square feet to reach a total of 300,000 contiguous square feet.
The expansion also added 24 meeting rooms, bringing the total to 52; and six additional loading docks for a total of 22. It also added 400 indoor parking spaces, a second executive kitchen and a rooftop ballroom with space for up to 2,000 attendees.
The convention center's size doubled as a result of the project.
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Other features of the overhauled convention center include a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city, and inclusive elements such as sensory rooms, nursing mother's rooms, universal changing tables and all-gender restrooms.
An expansion to the convention center was a long time in the making. Efforts stalled for many years due to a lack of financing and an unwillingness by state legislators to consider expanding or creating a new sales tax to fund the project.
But a month into the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020, the Wisconsin Center District approved the expansion project after Wisconsin passed legislation enabling the bond issue for the expansion
An expansion to the convention center was a long time in the making. Efforts stalled for many years due to a lack of financing and an unwillingness by state legislators to consider expanding or creating a new sales tax to fund the project.
But a month into the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020, the Wisconsin Center District approved the expansion project after Wisconsin passed legislation enabling the bond issue for the expansion
Construction on the high-profile project began in October 2021. While much of the project’s budget went to well-established, large contractors and suppliers, the Wisconsin Center District established targets for contracts going to minority-owned, women-owned and disabled veteran-owned businesses.
The convention facility was previously known as the Wisconsin Center, but Baird in March 2023 announced it would be the naming-rights sponsor of the expanded convention facility now known as the Baird Center.
Sustainability was a top priority for the project. The expansion incorporated cutting-edge green technologies, including triple-silver low-emissivity (Low-E) glass on the facade, bird-friendly glass on the skywalk, a solar roof, a 320,000-gallon underground stormwater detention system and an Orca Food Digester that can divert 438 tons of food waste per year from landfills. Additionally, 90% of the 6,000 tons of steel used in construction was recycled.
The convention facility was previously known as the Wisconsin Center, but Baird in March 2023 announced it would be the naming-rights sponsor of the expanded convention facility now known as the Baird Center.
Sustainability was a top priority for the project. The expansion incorporated cutting-edge green technologies, including triple-silver low-emissivity (Low-E) glass on the facade, bird-friendly glass on the skywalk, a solar roof, a 320,000-gallon underground stormwater detention system and an Orca Food Digester that can divert 438 tons of food waste per year from landfills. Additionally, 90% of the 6,000 tons of steel used in construction was recycled.
With Baird Center open for nearly a year, it's garnering interest from event planners all over the country.
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The Wisconsin Center District in February 2025 announced it officially earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The expanded Baird Center is expected to stimulate at least $12.6 billion in total spending in Wisconsin over 30 years and generate at least $150 million in incremental state income.
“The Baird Center is so much more than a space to gather,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson wrote in a May 2024 Business Journal op-ed. “It is a new landmark, adding impressively to our city’s center. It is a source of greater economic activity. And, our expanded convention center helps Milwaukee tell its story to the rest of the world.”
With the Baird Center open for nearly a year, it’s garnering interest from event planners all over the country. Since the expansion was completed, the Baird Center has booked events for USA Wrestling, and a large convention for the American Society of Association Executives that’s often dubbed the “Super Bowl of meetings,” to name some examples.
“In being bullish to see this project through and communicating with transparency every step of the way, I am confident that the expanded Baird Center will elevate Milwaukee and position our city as a top-tier convention destination,” Wisconsin Center District Board of Directors Chairman Jim Kanter said at the project’s ribbon-cutting ceremony
The expanded Baird Center is expected to stimulate at least $12.6 billion in total spending in Wisconsin over 30 years and generate at least $150 million in incremental state income.
“The Baird Center is so much more than a space to gather,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson wrote in a May 2024 Business Journal op-ed. “It is a new landmark, adding impressively to our city’s center. It is a source of greater economic activity. And, our expanded convention center helps Milwaukee tell its story to the rest of the world.”
With the Baird Center open for nearly a year, it’s garnering interest from event planners all over the country. Since the expansion was completed, the Baird Center has booked events for USA Wrestling, and a large convention for the American Society of Association Executives that’s often dubbed the “Super Bowl of meetings,” to name some examples.
“In being bullish to see this project through and communicating with transparency every step of the way, I am confident that the expanded Baird Center will elevate Milwaukee and position our city as a top-tier convention destination,” Wisconsin Center District Board of Directors Chairman Jim Kanter said at the project’s ribbon-cutting ceremony
Team Members
- Owner: Wisconsin Center District
- General Contractor: Gilbane Building Co. and C.D. Smith
- Architect: EUA and TVSdesign
- Engineer: Graef and Kapur & Associates