Crews enter new phase of construction on Couture high-rise

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It's full steam ahead for the Couture project on Milwaukee's downtown lakefront. 

Construction started more than a year ago on the 45-story building and although the construction is very much present, with all the crews and equipment, you may not see much of the actual building. 

That's because all the work up to this point has been focused mainly on the below-ground part of the structure. 

On Friday, crews entered a new phase of construction, completing the first section of the level one concrete floor slab. This level is the most complex with a variation of different concrete beams and slab thicknesses. The entire level is poured with more than 2,700 cubic yards of concrete, equivalent to more than 300 full concrete trucks.

"We've really been working below ground for the past year-plus," said Eric Sadler, senior project manager. "And this section of the first floor here not only is the lobbies and the entryway for the public, but the retail is going to start there as well as the bed for the streetcar is also going to be started today."

Construction is scheduled to finish up by the end of 2023.