Construction crews are hard at work on a massive undertaking to double the size of downtown Milwaukee’s convention center.
The city and state are pouring $456 million into the project, which leaders say will help make Milwaukee more attractive to large conventions and tourists. Once complete, the new convention center is projected to attract an additional 100,000 out-of-state visitors annually and support 2,300 full-time equivalent jobs throughout the state of Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Center District.
Construction broke ground in October 2021 and is on track to be complete by early 2024. The structure is being built north of the existing convention center building on North Kilbourn and Vel R. Phillips avenues.
Throughout the summer, the site has been buzzing with the sound of large trucks, heavy duty equipment and workers on the job. The work is being led by construction management partners Gilbane Building Co. and C.D. Smith. Officials estimate there will be about 500 workers on the construction site at peak operation.
