The new headquarters for Komatsu Mining Corporation represents a transformative redevelopment of a 59-acre contaminated waterfront brownfield site in Milwaukee’s Harbor District into a vibrant, sustainable destination with a 180,000-square-foot office building and 450,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, which together embody Komatsu’s commitment to environmental stewardship and employee well-being.

The design incorporates five interlocking building blocks, a layout that minimizes ground impact and integrates efficiently with the active rail line. With a focus on sustainability, the development aims for LEED Gold certification, a 50% reduction in energy use by 2030, and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The design solution revitalizes the site, transforming it from a barren Superfund location into a functional and engaging workspace. The project features a customer experience center, office and research spaces, a two-story automation lab, and a manufacturing building, all connected through thoughtful design elements such as a sky bridge spanning the railway. Spaces designed to enhance employee wellbeing include a full-service commercial kitchen, staffed fitness center with locker and shower facilities, collaborative cafes, and a central stairway aiming to promote physical activity.

“This is an enormous project! The glassy exterior along the river front connects employees to the environment and invites visitors or passersby to see into the working of the mining company. While the site organization helps break down the scale of the project with discrete buildings for each function.” 

Margaret Cavenagh, AIA (2024 Design Awards Juror)

The architecture contrasts Komatsu’s industrial products with minimal forms and a restrained palette, including glass and white-painted steel, while the interior reflects Komatsu’s Japanese heritage through origami-inspired “folds” and linear patterns created from surface mining. Along the office building’s river-facing east elevation, high-performance glass and repeating vertical aluminum fins temper the morning sun while allowing abundant daylight and stunning views of the Harbor District and Jones Island industrial area.