U.S. Bank Center (Milwaukee)

Overview

U.S. Bank Center

former names	First Wisconsin Center (1973-1992) Firstar Center (1992-2002)
mapframe-wikidata	yes
building type	Skyscraper
architectural style	International style
structural system	Trussed tube
cost	$50 million
current tenants	U.S. Bancorp
location	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
address	777 East Wisconsin Avenue
coordinates	43.03824°N, -87.90226°W
construction start date	April 1971
completion date	September 4, 1973
height	601 ft
floor count	42
floor area	1,077,607 ft2
elevator count	20
main contractor	Morse Diesel International
owner	U.S. Bancorp
architect	Bruce Graham James DeStefano
architecture firm	Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
structural engineer	Fazlur Rahman Khan
other designers	Fitzhugh Scott
public transit	MCTS
website	https://www.usbank.com/locations/wisconsin/milwaukee/777-e-wisconsin-ave-bank-atm/
references	‡R1R‡‡R2R‡‡R3R‡

U.S. Bank Center is a skyscraper in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Standing 601 ft and 42 stories tall, it is the tallest building in the state of Wisconsin and the tallest building between Chicago and Minneapolis.[2][3][4] The building has a floor area of 1,077,607 ft2.[5] As of 2024, major tenants included the main headquarters of Baird, Foley & Lardner, and Sensient Technologies, as well as regional headquarters for U.S. Bank and IBM.

The building was designed by architects Bruce Graham and James DeStefano of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and engineered by Fazlur Rahman Khan. It was topped off on August 29, 1972, and completed in 1973. It was the headquarters for

History

Plans were initially announced by First Wisconsin National Bank to construct a new headquarters building on August 21, 1969.[6] Although no architectural designs were complete at the time of its announcement, bank officials indicated it would rise at least 40 stories.[6] On March 18, 1971, bank officials unveiled the final design as a 42-story, 601 ft skyscraper, encompassing a full block fronting on East Wisconsin Avenue.[2] Designed by James DeStefano of the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, with Fitzhugh Scott Architects of Milwaukee serving as an associate planner for the project, the name of the tower was announced as the First Wisconsin Center.[2]

The building was topped-out on August 29, 1972, with the installing of the final 20 ft steel beam atop the tower.[7] Along with bank officials, mayor Henry Maier, county executive John Doyne, and Wisconsin governor Patrick Lucey attended the ceremony.[7]

Near the end of construction in 1973, two fatalities occurred at the work site. In May, a foreman died after being struck by a dump truck.[8] In July, one worker died and four others were injured when a derrick used in installing a 175 lb aluminum panel broke free and fell 41 floors to the ground.[8]

The building was initially occupied on September 4, 1973, and celebrated its official opening on October 6, 1973.[1]

First Wisconsin Center

While still under construction in September 1972, a group of local developers responsible for the neighboring Juneau Square development filed suit against First Wisconsin.[9] The $138 million suit alleged the bank acted in a "monopolistic" manner to control office development, in an effort to derail the plaintiffs proposed 25-story office tower project on a property adjacent to the First Wisconsin Center.[9] After several years of litigation, the suit finally went to trial in May 1976.[10] The following October, the court found First Wisconsin guilty and awarded the plaintiffs $6 million in damages that was then tripled to $18 million due to federal laws on damages awarded to antitrust suits.[11] First Wisconsin appealed the ruling, and in August 1977, a federal court ruled the case be retried due to the complexity of the original trial, along with the plaintiffs being allowed more time and the admission of hearsay testimony.[12]

U.S. Bank Center (Milwaukee)

History

First Wisconsin Center

Architecture

Peregrine falcons

Observation deck

See also

Bibliography

External links

References

Firstar Center

U.S. Bank Center