Baird Center expansion reaches substantial completion
Four years ago, the Baird Center expansion was nothing more than a parking lot and a pipe dream. Now, the construction of the $456 million project has reached substantial completion, meaning the building is fit for its intended use. Employees can enter the building without protective equipment as it undergoes its final inspections and testing of systems before the grand opening. Once the expanded Baird Center opens in a few weeks, the 1.3 million square foot building will serve as a great economic booster for Milwaukee and an impressive new addition to the city’s skyline.
The original convention center was built in 1998 with a plan to complete at least one future expansion. However, over 20 years had passed without an addition. When Wisconsin Center District (WCD) President and CEO Marty Brooks was hired to lead the District in January 2018, one of his directives from the WCD Board was to either get the expansion done or stop talking about it. Before Brooks’ arrival, several feasibility studies regarding an expansion were completed, but an agreement to start the project could never be reached. Everything changed on April 2, 2020. Despite a collapse of the convention and meeting industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the WCD Board authorized a resolution to allow the District to move forward with an expansion.
Once complete, the expanded Baird Center is expected to stimulate at least $12.6 billion in total spending in the state over 30 years and generate at least $150 million in incremental state income. Expanding the convention center allows the Wisconsin Center District to book events being held simultaneously or overlapping and secure larger, more prominent events, helping fill Milwaukee hotels and restaurants and bringing more business to local shops and stores.
The Baird Center expansion was designed with the future in mind. Cutting-edge sustainability features like a solar roof, stormwater management system, bird-friendly glass and an on-site food digester were installed. The convention center will be welcoming and inclusive for all, with on-site sensory rooms, nursing mother’s rooms and all-gender restrooms available for clients, guests and employees.
The project broke ground in fall 2021 and has surpassed several impressive milestones since then.
October 28, 2021- Groundbreaking.
May 10, 2023- The final piece of structural steel was placed.
November 17, 2023- The expansion project surpasses one million worker hours on the job site.
March 29, 2024- The project reached substantial completion.
Total number of piles driven: 2,741
Tons of structural steel used: 5,850
Cubic yards of concrete poured: 48,000
Number of people who’ve worked on-site: 2,359
Total worker hours: 1.4 million
Baird Center is proud to have contracted with:
- 25.3% minority-owned businesses (25% goal).
- 16.5% women-owned businesses (5% goal).
- 1% disabled-veteran-owned businesses (1% goal).
Baird Center surpassed its overall business inclusion goal by 11.7%.
The expansion achieved impressive workforce inclusion numbers as well. On-site labor hours were performed by:
- 47.9% Residence Preference Program (RPP) workers (40% goal). RPP workers are identified as Milwaukeeans living in the city’s most underserved zip codes.
- 4.5% women (5% goal).
- 1.2% disabled veterans (1% goal).
- 42% minority workers (25 % goal).
“I couldn’t be more proud of the work that’s been done to make this project inclusive, sustainable and diverse,” Brooks said. “Thanks to the aggressive recruitment efforts made by our construction manager, Gilbane | Smith, this project was truly built for Milwaukee, by Milwaukee.”
Baird Center will celebrate its grand opening on May 16 with a spectacular Grand Opening Gala in the brand-new rooftop Baird Ballroom.
In addition, Baird Center will open its doors to the public on Saturday, May 18 from 1-5 p.m. for an open house tour of the facility.