The Milwaukee Bucks and city of Milwaukee announced Tuesday a trio of local firms that will comprise the construction and design teams for a parking deck and mixed-use development as part of the public-private partnership to create a new sports and entertainment district in downtown Milwaukee. J.H. Findorff & Son Inc. has been selected to manage construction, while GRAEF and American Design Inc. will comprise the design team for the parking structure and development.

The city-owned parking deck, which will be located on the former Park East land between W. Juneau Ave. and W. McKinley Ave from N. Fifth Street to N. Sixth Street, will be a six-story structure that can accommodate approximately 1,250 vehicles. The structure will also include mixed-use opportunities on the first level, seamlessly integrating the structure into the broader design and aesthetics of the surrounding arena development. The Bucks have concurrently announced a request for interest and qualifications (RFI/Q) for local firms interested in private development on the block. 

“This is another important step forward in our vision for this public-private partnership to transform a previously underutilized portion of the city,” Bucks President Peter Feigin said. “We’re thrilled that three local firms, all of which are leaders in their respective fields, will be joining our team, and look forward to collaborating on a development that will provide needed parking for the arena while simultaneously incorporating mixed-use development that will add to the vibrancy of this new district.”

The Milwaukee Bucks have committed to meeting both the city and county job requirements, including 40% RPP and 25% SBE on the project.

“Local firms and local construction workers are benefitting from the investments made here, and that is good news for people all across the City,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said. “The project is designed in a way that benefits the surrounding neighborhood by adding parking and activity, so it is much more than simply a development to support the new arena.”

Findorff is one of the Midwest’s leading builders, with offices in Madison and Milwaukee. Findorff currently employs an average of 700 construction professionals and trades people, and completes over $425 million in construction annually. Findorff has contributed to the urban landscape of Milwaukee through countless projects, including the Henry S. Reuss Federal Plaza, Pettit National Ice Center, University Club Tower, Marine Terminal Lofts, and most recently The Moderne.

“With our office only blocks away from all of the Bucks development, we were already excited about what the new sports and entertainment district would bring to not only the City of Milwaukee, but also the surrounding neighborhoods,” said Eric Wynn, Findorff’s General Manager Southeast Wisconsin and Director of Project Management for the Company’s Milwaukee office. “We are very excited to be a part of the team and have the opportunity to participate and work with the Bucks, as well as the other team members, to construct and deliver this project.” 

GRAEF, which will lead the architecture and engineering team for the parking structure development, is a Milwaukee-headquartered, employee-owned, full-service engineering and consulting firm. For more than 50 years, GRAEF has been a local, and national, leader in planning, landscape architecture and industrial facility design, operations consulting, and structural, civil, transportation, MEP and environmental engineering.

“As a Milwaukee-headquartered firm, we understand the catalytic impact the Bucks arena and surrounding development will have on our city,” said Michael Vogel, leader of GRAEF’s Sports Team. “We are proud to play a role in the development and work with such a great team.”

GRAEF selected fellow Milwaukee-based firm American Design to serve as the lead architect on the project. American Design is a full service Milwaukee planning and architecture firm that has been successfully completing City projects for 23 years.  Their long standing knowledge of downtown Milwaukee combined with their design expertise make them a natural choice for this high profile project.

“We are honored and excited to be a part of this amazing development in the heart of downtown,” said Scott Williams, Sales and Operations at American Design. “The leadership the City has shown in its partnership with the Bucks will prove to be a driving progressive force in Milwaukee for decades to come.”

GRAEF’s team will also include Walker Parking Consultants, Kapur and Associates and HNTB.