The long-standing AIA Emerging Professionals Design Competition was resurrected this year by the current AIA Milwaukee Emerging Professionals Committee.

When choosing a site, the committee looked at various locations around the City of Milwaukee. In the end, discussions were had with the Department of City Development about a site that had long been vacant with an RFP out for developers. The committee saw this as an opportunity to bring new ideas to the vacant 2-acre site, at 4th & Wisconsin, which neighbors some high-profile developments in the City of Milwaukee.

The site had some constraints like a planned Milwaukee Streetcar expansion route that competitors were instructed to weave into their designs. The competition received 6 entries
from students and Emerging Professionals. The AIA Milwaukee Emerging Professionals Committee would like to thank everyone for their hard work and our esteemed Jury, Andy Malanowski, AIA (Mead & Hunt) and James Shields, FAIA (HGA), for their involvement.

Congratulations to all winners!

EP COMMITTEE
Emily Neal, Assoc. AIA – Quorum Architects
Ralph Dabu, Assoc. AIA – HGA
Erik Hojnacke, Assoc. AIA – Deep River Partners
Brittany Peterson, Assoc. AIA – FGM Architects
Elena Farin, Assoc. AIA – PRA

1st Place

HOLBROOK SQUARE

Brandon Reinke, AIA; Nhia Lee, Jordan Donald

Holbrook Square received its named from Walter A. Holbrook, a Milwaukee Architect who designed a four-story Richardsonian Romanesque building for the local Y.M.C.A which stood on 4th street just south of Grand Avenue. The building stood on the site until the late 1960’s. Soon after, many of the surrounding buildings were demolished to make way for what is currently there, a large parking structure and parking lot.

The initial design process began with the creation of patterns. Best described through an issue/ solution statement and accompanying diagram, these patterns are void of stylistic preferences and personal tastes. By stripping the patterns of any preconceptions, the focus is placed on the underlying “why” behind a project. Once there was a better understanding of the issues, solutions can start to evolve through the design process.

On the northwest corner of the site sits a pavilion with a café located on the main floor where patrons can stop in for a cup of coffee. The plaza and square outside offer a variety of seating for one to sit and enjoy their coffee at any time of the day. At the pavilion, you can begin to ascend the boardwalk that leads you to a series rooftop garden with views of Downtown Milwaukee.

Along the west edge of the site is a mixed-use tower. The first floor is divided by a pass through which connects 5th Street to the site. The southern portion of the first floor is an art gallery for local artists whereas the northern portion is dedicated to restrooms and a bus shelter. The protected bus shelter has an all-glass façade which helps riders see the arriving bus without having to wait in the cold.

The second level is dedicated to a public outdoor terrace which overlooks the square below and can be accessed from the building or through the boardwalk. The remaining floors are a series of high-end apartments with four units per floor with each unit having floor to ceiling windows with great views of downtown. The high finishes, amenities, and direct access to a public green space will make these units an exciting place to live.

The Hop cuts through the site along the southern border. There, a covered waiting station allows riders to wait for The Hop. The waiting station directs its views north where a grove of trees has been planted to allow a soft separation between the square and public transportation and provides riders with a more enjoyable view while waiting.

The three buildings create a courtyard scheme with a large square in the center. The terracing breaks down the large space into smaller, intimate, and usable spaces. During the day, the square can be bustling with a farmers’ market on the hardscaped plaza. Afterwards, you can enjoy your local goods up on the terraced lawns. At night, the space can transform in a movie night or a concert for the community.

2nd Place

THE WATERVIEW HOTEL & APARTMENTS

Samuel Bell, AIA; Kyle Holtz, Jill Schutts, Kevin Barbour

The Waterview is a purposeful design solution that is thoughtfully knit into the fabric of
the city of Milwaukee. The site is an important intersection of downtown that provides
an essential plaza, transportation hub, and location for retail, hospitality, and residential
living. With 176 luxury apartments and 108 premier keys for the hotel, the design is not
only focused on the residents, but is meant to engage the public.

The Waterview will draw people for many reasons, at all times of the day, month, and
year. The plaza has an important role of not only allowing for bustling activity with retail
connections, outdoor space and connections to the streetcar, but also is a gathering and
outdoor space for the adjacent buildings, including the Wisconsin Center directly to the
north of the site. The transit aspect of the Waterview site is crucial to keep downtown
Milwaukee interconnected with current and future public transit options. While the
streetcar bisects the site, it creates opportunities for the public to experience retail and
food options, gives access to a grand public social stair, connects the hotel and housing
to the city night life and integrates much needed housing options into the fabric of the
area.

The views from The Waterview are just as the name suggests, with the significant height
of the housing and hotel towers, it will provide not only water views all the way to Lake
Michigan, but curated views to the Third ward, the Menominee Valley and downtown.
The amenity decks/pool that spill out from the building allow for a vibrant and exciting
experiences that will help to invigorate Wisconsin avenue and provide framed views of
the spectacular sunrises and sunsets. These decks will be integral into hosing multiple
events of varying sizes and provide opportunities to make this a year-round destination.

3rd Place

[un]Common Ground

Garrett Marklowitz, Assoc. AIA; Drew Martin, AIA; Jens
Hanson, Assoc. AIA; David Chiang

We propose creating an urban space unlike any other in Milwaukee – a multi-layered vertical indoor-outdoor experience that welcomes the community and encourages change in its immediate surroundings. Upper level retain and food service are specifically a unique draw for this development.

Extensive sloped green roofs are the most obvious feature of this development, as well as the large jewel box under the tallest portion of the sloped mass, containing a four-season winter garden. Our green roofs provide a mitigating factor to the hyper-local urban heat island effect, as well as providing significant shaded outdoor space, providing passive cooling. Also, our roof system acts as a sponge, mediating the effects of rainfall on the surrounding watershed. We collect rainwater and use it to irrigate indoor and outdoor flora and incorporate water features as a constant visual reminder of water as a central aspect to Milwaukee’s geography.

We believe that, in order to accomplish it’s goals, any development on this site must be devoted to the local Milwaukee community first and foremost. By providing a multi-layer vertical urban experience, we encourage city-dwellers and visitors alike, to explore their environment in a way unique to Milwaukee.