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U.S. Bank Center (Milwaukee)

From Alfawiki
U.S. Bank Center
Company typeOffice skyscraper
IndustryCommercial real estate
Founded1973; 53 years ago (1973)
Headquarters
Milwaukee
,
United States
Area served
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Key people
Bruce Graham (architect), James DeStefano (architect), Fazlur Rahman Khan (structural engineer)
ProductsOffice space leasing

U.S. Bank Center stands as a prominent skyscraper located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rising to 42 floors and reaching a height of , it holds the distinction of being the tallest structure in Wisconsin as well as between the cities of Chicago and Minneapolis.[1][2][3] The tower encompasses approximately of leasable area.[4] As of 2024, major occupants include the headquarters of Baird, law firm Foley & Lardner, Sensient Technologies, along with regional branches for U.S. Bank and IBM.

The architectural design was crafted by Bruce Graham, a Colombian-Peruvian architect, in collaboration with James DeStefano from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, while the structural engineering was led by Bangladeshi-American engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan. The building's structural frame was completed on August 29, 1972, with final construction concluding in 1973. It functioned as the headquarters for Firstar Corporation from its completion until 2001.

History

The initiative for a new headquarters by First Wisconsin National Bank was unveiled on August 21, 1969, originally proposing a 40-story tower.[5] By March 18, 1971, the finalized plans showcased a 42-story skyscraper occupying an entire block along East Wisconsin Avenue.[1] The design was led by James DeStefano of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, with Fitzhugh Scott Architects serving as associate planners. The structure was initially named the First Wisconsin Center.[1]

The building reached its structural pinnacle on August 29, 1972, marked by the installation of the last steel beam.[6] This milestone event was attended by bank executives and civic leaders including mayor Henry Maier and governor Patrick Lucey.[6]

During the course of construction in 1973, two fatal accidents occurred: one involving a foreman hit by a dump truck in May, and another in July when a falling aluminum panel caused a derrick-related fatality.[7]

Occupancy began on September 4, 1973, with the formal inauguration taking place on October 6, 1973.[8]

First Wisconsin Center

In September 1972, developers associated with Juneau Square filed a $138 million lawsuit against First Wisconsin alleging monopolistic tactics aimed at obstructing their adjacent office tower development.[9] After prolonged legal proceedings, the trial commenced in May 1976.[10] In October that year, First Wisconsin was found liable and mandated to pay $18 million in damages under federal antitrust statutes.[11] The bank contested this verdict; subsequently, in August 1977 a retrial was ordered due to procedural complexities.[12] Ultimately, by June 1978 all allegations against First Wisconsin were dismissed.[13]

First Wisconsin maintained ownership until June 1987 when Dallas-based developer Trammell Crow Company agreed to acquire the tower for $195 million.[14] Trammell Crow announced intentions to construct a new nearby tower with fifty stories that would surpass it as the tallest building in Wisconsin; however, this plan never came to fruition.[14] The transaction finalized in January 1988; shortly thereafter Trammell Crow sold the property to an investment consortium for $220.9 million.[15]

Firstar Center

In December 1988, First Wisconsin adopted the name Firstar Corporation to signify its growth beyond the state of Wisconsin. By May 1992, the First Wisconsin brand was completely phased out, with all retail banking operations unified under the Firstar Bank identity. Subsequently, on September 14, 1992, the building was officially renamed the Firstar Center. In 1996, a skywalk valued at $1.2 million was constructed over Van Buren Street, linking the tower directly to the neighboring Lewis Center. This project received partial funding from Milwaukee as part of an economic development effort, given Firstar's substantial presence in both properties.

In 1998, the ownership group consisting of The Equitable Life Assurance Society, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, and CalPERS decided to put the center up for sale. Later that year, during its acquisition of Firstar, Cincinnati-based Star Banc Corporation repurchased the tower for $200 million.

U.S. Bank Center

In October 2000, Firstar Corporation revealed plans to acquire U.S. Bancorp, with the merged entity adopting the U.S. Bank brand name. The transaction received approval in February 2001, and by May 3, 2002, the Firstar Center was rebranded as Wisconsin’s U.S. Bank Center. In April 2008, a panel collapse occurred in the adjacent parking garage, leading to its demolition and replacement with a new six-story precast concrete structure featuring 1,000 parking spaces; this facility opened in June 2010.

The U.S. Bank Center’s windows have served as a canvas for illuminated messages during major Milwaukee occasions—examples include displaying "HD" in honor of Harley Davidson’s centennial celebration in 2003 and "UWM" during the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Panthers’ run in the 2005 NCAA tournament. Additionally, the building’s upper trusses are lit in colors corresponding to events such as green and yellow for the Green Bay Packers during their appearances in the 2007–08 and 2010 NFC Championship Games.

Starting November 2023, Baird initiated the replacement of two of the four "U.S. Bank" signs with "Baird" on the north and south facades; meanwhile, the east and west sides continue to feature U.S. Bank branding.

Architecture

Situated on East Wisconsin Avenue within Downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the U.S. Bank Center is a 42-story office skyscraper designed by Bruce Graham and James DeStefano from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill’s Chicago office. The building occupies an entire city block bordered by North Cass Street and Van Buren Street to one side, and East Michigan Street and East Wisconsin Avenue on the other. Its structure consists of a steel framework clad in white aluminum panels combined with glass.

The tower’s engineering incorporates a belt truss system developed by Graham alongside Fazlur Rahman Khan. Comparable to Khan’s earlier design for Melbourne’s BHP House (now known as 140 William Street), three diagonal belt trusses provide both essential structural support and a distinctive visual contrast against the vertical lines of the facade.

From its completion in 1973 until the merger with Mercantile Bancorporation in 1999, the exterior remained unchanged. At that time, Firstar installed green advertising signs atop the building which replaced original aluminum elements—these additions faced criticism for interrupting the iconic diagonal trusses’ appearance. By 2002, these signs were modified to opaque white to reflect the U.S. Bancorp merger; later in 2013, they were updated again with blue LED signage designed to enhance brand visibility while improving energy efficiency.

Peregrine falcons

In July 1987, a hacking box was positioned outside the 41st floor as part of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Peregrine Falcon Recovery Program. This effort focused on restoring peregrine falcon populations in Wisconsin following their severe decline due to DDT exposure after World War II. The building’s elevation offered a safer habitat by minimizing threats from predators and diseases. A year later, peregrine falcon chicks successfully hatched on the tower, marking the first wild-born falcons in Wisconsin since the 1960s. Since the installation, 67 falcons have fledged from this nesting location.

Observation deck

The building originally featured an observation deck on the 41st floor, which hosted events such as the "Firstar Eve" New Year’s celebration. Public access was discontinued in 1991 after Foley & Lardner restricted entry through their office spaces. The deck was reopened during the 2011 Doors Open Milwaukee event and has remained open to visitors since then.

See also

Bibliography

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named March 18, 1971
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Emporis
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named March 17, 2010
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named FloorArea
  5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named August 21, 1969
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named August 29, 1972
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named July 3, 1973
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named October 2, 1973
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named September 22, 1972
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named May 17, 1976
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named October 2, 1976
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named August 3, 1977
  13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named June 20, 1978
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named June 18, 1987
  15. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named January 8, 1988
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