Milwaukee Bucks Enter The Placemaking Business

The Milwaukee Bucks advance plans to construct a community gathering space adjacent to the new Wisconsin Entertainment & Sports Center that will serve as a year-round hub for activity in downtown Milwaukee. Following the lead set by other franchises, professional sports teams are becoming real estate developers seeking to create vibrant places that attract commerce on non-game days.

The Entertainment Block will be the centerpiece of a new mixed-use development in downtown Milwaukee. An important aspect of the design is extensive outdoor gathering space, which along with dining and retail venues, will draw visitors and activity to the city year-round.

The 104,000 square foot entertainment center will feature three buildings, separated by two public walkways. The development located east of N 4th Street between W Highland and W Juneau Avenues will replace a former city-owned parking structure.

Tenant names have not been released at this time, but conceptual plans show a craft brewery in the largest building, pictured above. This building is situated on the site’s northern portion, with large glass walls encasing brewing equipment facing N. 4th St. and W. Juneau Ave.

The four story brewery building will be next to a year-round beer garden within a covered pedestrian walkway in the middle of the site, shown above.

A walkway cuts through the two largest buildings in the complex leading to the outdoor plaza west of the entertainment center by way of N Old World Third St. A shorter walkway connects pedestrians from N. 4th St. and W. Highland Ave., by cutting through two smaller buildings along the site’s southern portion. Deer District’s plans show both of those buildings with two stories.

The public plaza will connect the entertainment center to the future Bucks arena.

Next: Professional Sports Franchises Turning Into Placemakers