Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, with a metropolitan area of over 1.5 million residents. Home to over 120 high-rise buildings,[1][2] 53 of which stand 200 feet (61 m) or taller, Milwaukee has the largest skyline in Wisconsin and the second largest on the shores of Lake Michigan, after Chicago. Four of the city's buildings are skyscrapers greater than 492 feet (150 m). The tallest building in Milwaukee and Wisconsin is the 42-story, 601ft (183m) tall U.S. Bank Center, which was completed in 1973.[3]
The history of skyscrapers in Milwaukee began with the completion of the Pabst Building in 1891. Standing 235ft (72m) tall, it was Milwaukee's first high-rise, and the tallest building in the city until the Milwaukee City Hall was completed four years later. At the time of its completion, the city hall was the tallest habitable building in the United States;[4] it dominated Milwaukee's skyline for nearly eighty years, despite a construction boom during the Roaring Twenties. Following this, there was little high-rise construction until the 1960s, when a boom took place until the early 1970s which saw the U.S. Bank Center dethrone the city hall as Milwaukee's tallest building. Another boom occurred in the late 1980s, which brought about the 548ft (167m)100 East Wisconsin, currently the city's third tallest. By the end of the boom in 1992, six of the eight tallest buildings in Milwaukee had been built after 1985.
Following a lull in the 1990s, skyscraper development has continued into the 21st century. Of the 15 buildings taller than 300 ft (91 m) in Milwaukee, eight were built after 2000. Significant additions include residential buildings such as the Moderne, the tallest building in the city west of the Milwaukee River, in 2005, and University Club Tower in 2007. Northwestern Mutual, a local financial services company, demolished their 16-story headquarters to make way for Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons. Built in 2017 at 554ft (169m), it is the city's second tallest building. The Couture became the tallest residential tower in Wisconsin upon completion in 2024. Milwaukee's skyline has recently become notable for mass timber high-rises. Ascent MKE, the world's tallest timber building, opened in 2022; work on The Edison, an even taller 32-story mass-timber structure, started in 2025.[5]
The majority of Milwaukee's tallest buildings are located downtown, north of Interstate 794, south of East Juneau Avenue, east of Interstate 43, and west of Lake Michigan. The Milwaukee River runs through the skyline, separating it into a more built-up eastern half and a less dense western half. The downtown skyline has begun to expand south of Interstate 794, with the completion of 333 North Water in 2024. Extending the skyline northeast of downtown is a line of residential high-rises running along North Prospect Avenue, facing Lake Park and Veterans Park to their southeast. This grouping of towers in the Lower East Side and Northpoint neighborhoods of Milwaukee's East Side has seen recent growth with the St. Johns on the Lake and Park Lafayette twin complexes.
History
Number of high-rise buildings by height in Milwaukee by the end of each year, based on the list below. This takes into account three demolished buildings. Click on the legend to toggle a specific height on or off. View chart definition.
In 2023, Northwestern Mutual announced it would undertake renovation on its 18-story North Tower to match the appearance of its recently built Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons. The $500 million renovation is expected to be completed in 2027.[6]
In 2025, The Edison broke ground, and is expected to become the world's tallest mass-timber building. It will be located south of Interstate 794, joining the recently completed 333 North Water in marking a southward expansion of the skyline. Work on The Edison was halted later that year, with the developer citing increased costs due to tariffs imposed during the second Trump administration.[7]
Cityscape
Skyline of Milwaukee from Lakeshore State Park in 2025 (Click or hover over image to identify buildings)Skyline of Milwaukee's "Gold Coast" in the Northpoint neighborhood in East Side. The skyline hugs Lake Michigan northeast of downtown.
Map of tallest buildings
The maps below show the location of buildings taller than 200 ft (61 m) in Downtown Milwaukee, where the majority of such buildings are. Each marker is numbered by the building's height rank, and colored by the decade of its completion.
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Buildings taller than 200 m (61 ft) in Milwaukee. An asterisk (*) next to the building's name indicates it is located outside the map.
Map all coordinates usingOpenStreetMapDownload coordinates asKML
This list ranks completed skyscrapers and high-rises in Milwaukee that stand at least 200 ft (61 ft) tall as of 2025, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. The “Year” column indicates the year of completion. Buildings tied in height are sorted by year of completion, and then alphabetically.
Was the tallest building in Milwaukee upon completion
Tallest building in the state; previously called the First Wisconsin Center (1973–92) and the Firstar Center (1992–2002). The building won a Distinguished Building Award from the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1974. Tallest building completed in Milwaukee in the 1970s.[8][9][10][3][11]
Largest building in Wisconsin by square footage, and the second-tallest in the state. Tallest building completed in Milwaukee in the 2010s.[12][13][14][15][16]
Designed as a postmodern version of old German vernacular architecture and built on the site of the former 14-story Pabst skyscraper, this was the second tallest building in the state for 28 years. Tallest building completed in Milwaukee in the 1980s.[17][18]
Second-tallest building in Milwaukee at the time of completion. Formerly known as the Milwaukee Center until 2019. In 2016, Associated Bank, the largest Wisconsin-based bank, purchased the building for 60.5 million dollars.[29][30]
Constructed with 1,200 eight-ton, pre-cast concrete panels in a modern architectural style. Riverview Realty Partners purchased the building in 2014. The new owners have tried to make this a Green Building. The building boasts a 5-story high lobby.[31][32]
Tallest habitable building in the world for more than four years after completion (1895–99). Tallest building in Milwaukee for nearly 80 years, until it was surpassed by U.S. Bank Center in 1973. Tallest building completed in Milwaukee in the 19th century.[39]
Tallest building completed in Milwaukee in the 1990s. The light blue pyramid at the top is lit at night. In 2023, Northwestern Mutual announced a major renovation to the North Tower. It is under renovation as of 2025.[40][41][42][43]
Tallest building in Milwaukee south of Interstate 794. The residential tower boasts the highest rents in Milwaukee on a per-square-foot basis.[47][48][49][50][51]
The light pink facade and windows give it a unique appearance in Milwaukee's skyline. The building also is home to the Milwaukee field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.[57][58]
Third-tallest building in Milwaukee at the time of completion. Tallest building completed in Milwaukee in the 1960s. Once the site of the Marine Bank, it was known as Bank One Plaza before Bank One's merger with Chase. Contains 480,000 square feet of Class A office space and houses Milwaukee Public Radio.[59][60][61]
Also known as the 606 Building. Tallest building completed in Milwaukee in the 1930s. Originally and office building, the 22 story Art-Deco tower was converted into 74 condominiums in 2006.[66][67]
The new building was opened in March 2020 and includes 79 independent living units, 16 catered living units, a lecture hall/performance space and two levels of below-grade parking.[71][72]
Third-tallest building in Milwaukee at the time of completion. The antenna on top brings the total height of the building to 630 feet (192 m). This hotel is the largest in Milwaukee when measured by the number of rooms (729).[73][74]
In 2017 a real estate developer (J. Jeffers & Co.) purchased the building. A 40-foot sign advertising Miller Brewing Company is situated atop the tower.[87][88]
This high-rise is managed by the Milwaukee Housing Authority, and contains 230 one bedroom apartments. In order to live in this building a tenant must be 50 years old or older, or be an adult with a disability.[94][95][96][97]
The building is 248 feet tall from the Prospect Avenue entrance; the building is 350 feet tall at the rear. There are 275 condominium units in the 27 floor high rise.[102][103]
A mixed-use tower where the 27 residential units are on the lower floors, and the 200,000 square feet of office space is on the upper floors. The building won a Distinguished Building Award from the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 2005.[104]
This building is owned and managed by The Milwaukee Public Housing Authority. It is considered low income housing, and rent can be as low as $50.[108][109][110]
Klug & Smith Co designed the 14-story office building on the site. The 19-story contemporary-style tower was designed by Perkins & Will. Formerly known as 250 Plaza.[115][116]
This list ranks Milwaukee skyscrapers based on their pinnacle height, which includes radio masts and antennas. Standard architectural height measurements, which excludes antennas in building heights, are included for comparative purposes. The "Year" column indicates the year in which a building was completed.
The following table includes buildings under construction in Milwaukee that are planned to be at least 200 ft (61 m) tall as of 2025, based on standard height measurement. The “Year” column indicates the expected year of completion. Buildings that are on hold are not included.
Groundbreaking started in March 2025 with completion planned for 2027. Originally planned for 15 stories, it was later updated to be 32 stories. The mass-timber residential high-rise would likely be the tallest mass timber tower in the United States when completed.[5][129][130]
Proposed
The following table includes approved and proposed buildings in Milwaukee that are expected to be at least 200 ft (61 m) tall as of 2025, based on standard height measurement. The “Year” column indicates the expected year of completion. A dash “–“ indicates information about the building’s height, floor count, or year of completion is unknown or has not been released.
First announced in July 2024. If completed, would be the tallest building in Milwaukee and Wisconsin as well as the tallest timber building
The Caroline
390 (120)
32
–
Proposed
Announced in April 2019. Proposed 350 mixed-income units and 40,000 square feet of office space. Developed by the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee. Target start of 2020 with two years to completion.[131]
1550 N. Prospect Ave.
277 (84)
25
–
Approved
A proposal to move the Goll Mansion closer to Prospect Avenue was approved by the Common Council in September 2017, allowing the tower to be constructed in the Mansion's current location. After years of delay, the project was revived on April 12, 2022, by a new investor group. In December 2022 a new design was approved with construction expected to start in 2023, which did not occur that year.[132][133][134][135][136]
1490 N Farwell Ave
251 (77)
25
–
Approved
Proposed by New Land Enterprises with 310 apartments. Includes the Renaissance Place event center, which could be reopened in some form as part of the development.[137][138]
Masonic Center Hotel
234 (71)
18
–
Approved
The existing 128-year-old Masonic Center will be renovated, and a 14-story tower will be built above it, at a cost of $60 million. In December 2018 developers announced a delay due to Updated timeline has the project starting in June 2019 and completing by early 2021. As of May 2020, no construction has occurred, and no update has been offered.[139][140][141]
The Redevelopment Authority board's approval in May 2017 to waive the Park East redevelopment plan's height limitation of 12 stories for the N. Water St. site is the last announced development for the project.[142]
Edison Place
240 (73)
20
–
Proposed
Mix-used building which would include possible move-in of the Marcus Corp headquarters, was set for construction in fall 2017 if tenants and financing could have been arranged, but no new announcements have been made since Marcus did soil testing in 2018.[143]
The Caroline
240 (73)
32
–
Proposed
Announced in April 2019. Proposed 350 mixed-income units and 40,000 square feet of office space. Developed by the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee. Target start of 2020 with two years to completion.[131]
Portfolio
–
20
–
Proposed
A proposed 20-story, $100 million apartment tower is to include 176 apartments by Milwaukee-based Mandel Group. It was scheduled to break ground during the 3rd quarter of 2019, but no updates have been announced regarding construction.[144][145][146]
Tallest demolished
There have been three demolished buildings in Milwaukee that once stood taller than 200 feet (61m) in height.
Name
Image
Height
ft (m)
Floors
Year Completed
Year Demolished
Notes
Northwestern Mutual Place
283 (86)
16
1979
2014
Demolished and replaced with the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons
The Pabst Building was 14 stories, tall constructed in a neo-gothic style. Great detailing and a granite arch at the entrance. This building was Milwaukee's first skyscraper: at the time the Pabst was the tallest building in Milwaukee. The building was demolished in 1981, 100 East Wisconsin was constructed on this site eight years later.[147]
Tallest building in Wisconsin since its completion. A square block was cleared to make way for The First Wisconsin building.[10][3][11]
Notes
1 2 3 Sources do not state the exact height of this building. This figure was determined using Google Earth by subtracting the altitude of the building's lowest main pedestrian open-air entrance from its highest architectural point.
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