The formal strategy for both site massing and building typology utilizes the concept of ‘commons’ for organization and circulation. The formal development has been applied to massing and site design - the different housing types are distributed around a central court creating both a distinct separation and common amenity.
Tucked prominently at its west end, Slash caps Brady Street with a vibrant destination for neighborhood events, community association, local commerce, varied recreation, and connected living. Programmatically, the building subverts the traditional model of walled-off private amenities, enthusiastically bringing the surrounding community into what were traditionally exclusionary spaces.
Garbarnia is designed to be economically constructed with durable materials to create a built environment that won't be a burden to future generations. Units and building forms are simplified and right sized, considering function and form in tandem to minimize material waste and construction costs.
Urban Loft transformed a series of interconnected, neglected commercial buildings from the 1880s into a serene private residence in a vibrant Milwaukee neighborhood. Decades of disrepair had caused the buildings to deteriorate, with significant roof leaks leading to rotted upper floors. “The project is beautifully detailed with elegant skylights extending light through the section. The...
Ground 59 revitalizes a block in Milwaukee’s Bay View community by introducing four unique Asian-themed restaurants and enhancing urban connectivity. The design strategically integrates two new buildings along a busy commercial street, repurposes existing structures, and introduces a pedestrian walkway that bridges residential and retail areas. This walkway, inspired by Tokyo’s Yokocho alleys, facilitates a...
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...
The redevelopment of the Wgema [pronounced Ga-mah] or “Chief” Campus by the Forest County Potawatomi Community exemplifies a deep commitment to sustainability and cultural preservation, reflecting their seven-generational decision-making values. This project repurposes early 20th-century Germanic collegiate buildings into modern office and educational spaces, merging historical rehabilitation with contemporary sustainability practices. Key to the renovation...
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...
