When originally opened as the Midwest Express Center in 1998, the Wisconsin Center was designed with a Phase III expansion in mind, extending to the north to Kilbourn Avenue. In this or a fourth phase, the center would ultimately to be connected to the Arena and Auditorium. However, this expansion was delayed by the tumultuous…
April 15, 2020 Employment Impact: The Wisconsin Center Expansion Project will entail over 1100 construction jobs on-site and as many off-site, generating more than $100 million in wages to help restart the economy. After completion, expanded operations are expected to bring in more than 100,000 new visitors, nearly double visitor spending within five years, and…
Governance Committee to provide final approval before issuing bonds MILWAUKEE (April 2, 2020) – The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) Board approved a resolution authorizing the District to move forward with the $419.9 million convention center expansion, as well as restructuring of existing debt, increasing the Milwaukee County hotel tax, and extension of the food and…
MILWAUKEE (March 27, 2020) – The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) and City of Milwaukee are working together to identify a clear path toward advancing the expansion of the Wisconsin Center while providing a new revenue source for the City of Milwaukee via a proposed Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program. “One of the purposes…
Expanded building expected to attract more than 100,000 new out-of-state visitors to Milwaukee annually MILWAUKEE – March 6, 2020 – The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) revealed renderings of its proposed expansion project and outlined the project’s financial funding models during its board meeting today. The expansion will double the square footage of the convention center…
The Wisconsin Center Expansion Project architecture team of tvsdesign and EUA has released renderings of the proposed design. Click here to see images
February 27, 2020 In a landmark release, the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) has announced a minimum wage increase to $15 per hour. In addition, those currently making up to $18.50 per hour will receive no less than a $1.50 per hour wage increase, all effective July 1, 2020. The WCD owns and operates the Wisconsin…
February 11, 2020 The Wisconsin Center District (WCD) received approval from the Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday morning certifying the use of state moral obligation to support the proposed Wisconsin Center expansion. The City of Milwaukee is the sponsoring municipality for the state’s moral obligation on bonds the WCD will issue to finance the convention…
January 29, 2020 The Wisconsin Center District has named five consultant subcontractors for preconstruction work on the long-planned expansion of the Wisconsin Center convention facility in downtown Milwaukee. The following companies have been selected for specific roles in the project: GRAEF, Milwaukee, for structural engineering; Henderson Engineers, Kansas City, for mechanical electrical and plumbing; William Caruso…
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 Company and CD Smith (Gilbane Smith). “The selection of construction manager is a critical milestone in the continued progression of…
At a meeting this morning, Wisconsin Center District (WCD) President and CEO Marty Brooks announced that the architecture team of tvsdesign and EUA has been selected to design the expansion of the Wisconsin Center. “Today’s announcement is a critical milestone in this exciting and ambitious process,” said Brooks. “The expanded Wisconsin Center will be a…
December 10, 2019 A Spending and Fiscal Impact Analysis conducted by HVS verifies that Wisconsin Center expansion will meet or exceed the criteria for State moral obligation underwriting of project bonds. Specifically, HVS determined that the Wisconsin Center District can reasonably expect that an expanded Wisconsin Center will: Include an exposition hall of at least…
August 16, 2019 In a meeting this morning,the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Center District (WCD) voted unanimously to pass a resolution regarding expansion of the Wisconsin Center. The resolution raises the cap on agreements which the President and CEO and Board Chairman are authorized to enter into, to $1 million. “Today’s vote was…
June 25, 2019 The Wisconsin Legislature voted today to accept “moral obligation” to back up Wisconsin Center completion project bonds, securing investor confidence and enhancing the Wisconsin Center District’s borrowing rates and capacity. Moral obligation underwriting is a pledge by the State to appropriate money toward unmet WCD debt obligations in the unlikely event the…
May 10, 2019 In a Board Meeting this morning, the Wisconsin Center District shared an updated timeline for the funding portion of the completion of the Wisconsin Center. An RFQ was publicized to financial institutions in mid-April with a deadline of noon on May 1, 2019. Thirty four responses were received, with ten respondents offering…
April 15, 2019 Upon receiving results of a Tax Projection Study, the Wisconsin Center District issues a Request for Qualifications for financial services related to crafting a financing plan to expand and complete the Wisconsin Center. Tax Projection Study