The YMCA commissioned the creation of a new bath and shower house, known as the “Kybo,” for Camp Minikani in Hubertus, 18 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Designed to serve the Explorer Unit of campers, the Kybo addresses the urgent need for nearby communal shower and restroom facilities, replacing the previous arrangement that required campers to...
The Shechem (pronounced shek-uh-m) community center, an offshoot of the adjacent Hope Street housing, takes its name from an ancient city in the West Bank near present-day Nablus, drawing inspiration from the biblical significance of Shechem as a pivotal setting for numerous events in the story of Israel. This historical allusion underscores the center’s mission...
Adventure Rock, a community climbing gym located in a repurposed industrial warehouse on Milwaukee’s south side, exemplifies the transformative potential of adaptive reuse in architecture. Originally an introverted, utilitarian structure from the 1940s, the warehouse was slated for demolition until a feasibility study revealed it could be salvaged and reimagined as a bouldering center. The...
The renovation of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Student Union aimed to revitalize the existing Brutalist structure built in phases between the 1950s and 1980s. With a budget of $40M, the renovation focused on admitting daylight and views into windowless areas, improving wayfinding, creating new student spaces, and updating the mechanical systems. The design incorporated student...
