Pabst Building

Pabst Building
Pabst Building
General information
Status	Demolished
Type	Commercial office
Architectural style	Flemish Renaissance Revival
Location	Milwaukee, United States
Address	108 East Wisconsin Avenue
Coordinates	43°02′20″N87°54′34″W / 43.03889°N 87.90944°W Coordinates: 43°02′20″N87°54′34″W / 43.03889°N 87.90944°W
Completed	1891
Demolished	1981
Height	235 ft (72 m)
Technical details
Structural system	Steel frame
Floor count	14
Lifts/elevators	3
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Solon Spencer Beman

Last updated March 15, 2023

The Pabst Building was a 14-story neo-gothic high-rise building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Built in 1891, it was Milwaukee's first skyscraper, and was the tallest building in Milwaukee until the Milwaukee City Hall was finished four years later. The Pabst Building was demolished in 1981 and the 100 East Wisconsin Building now occupies its site. Having stood at 235-foot (72 m) tall, the Pabst Building is the 2nd tallest building ever demolished in Wisconsin.^[1]

History and description

The property at the northwest corner of Water and Wisconsin Street was a prime central location of historic significance. Solomon Juneau's original cabin and trading post had stood at this spot on the Milwaukee River, considered the "starting point" of the city.^[2] In 1851 the Ludington Block building was built here. Around 1890 the property was purchased by brewer Frederick Pabst, who demolished the Ludington building and hired architect Solon Spencer Beman to design his headquarters, a magnificent symbol of his brewery empire, in its place.^[3]^[2]

The Pabst Building measured fourteen stories, about 235 feet tall from the sidewalk to the top of the copper tower.^[2] It was constructed of brown brick ornamented with terra cotta with a magnificent granite arch at its entrance.^[3]^[2] The main tower was topped with copper, featuring four large clock faces.^[2] The style has been described as "a masterpiece of Romanesque Revival"^[2] and as a "neo-gothic high-rise, with Flemish detailing."^[3] It quickly became an iconic building of Milwaukee and a popular subject for postcards.^[2] The Pabst was Milwaukee's first skyscraper, and held the title of tallest building in Milwaukee for four years, until the Milwaukee City Hall was completed.^[3]

The Pabst building saw many alterations to its roofline over the years. In the late 1940s the copper towers were removed due to deterioration and the rooflines were squared off.^[2] In 1981 it was demolished to make way for 100 East Wisconsin. The crown of the new building was inspired by the Pabst Building's design.^[3]

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References

↑ "Pabst Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Missing Milwaukee". Encyclopedia of Milwaukee. Marquette University Press. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
1 2 3 4 5 Beutner, Jeff (9 February 2016). "Pabst Building, 1890s". Urban Milwaukee. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

Records
Preceded by Unknown	Tallest Building in Wisconsin 1891—1895 72m	Succeeded by Milwaukee City Hall
Preceded by Unknown	2nd Tallest building in Milwaukee 1895—1927 72m	Succeeded by Hilton Milwaukee City Center

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[1] "Pabst Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2020.

[EM-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Missing Milwaukee". Encyclopedia of Milwaukee. Marquette University Press. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

[Beutner-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Beutner, Jeff (9 February 2016). "Pabst Building, 1890s". Urban Milwaukee. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e High-rises in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Tallest buildings	Allen-Bradley Clock Tower AT&T Center Basilica of St. Josaphat BMO Harris Financial Center Chase Tower The Couture Hilton Milwaukee City Center Kilbourn Tower Milwaukee Center Milwaukee City Hall The Moderne Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons The Pfister Hotel Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Hotel Tower Sandburg Hall North Tower U.S. Bank Center University Club Tower 100 East Wisconsin Wisconsin Gas Building Wisconsin Tower 411 East Wisconsin Center 1000 North Water Street 7Seventy7
Demolished	Pabst Building
See also	List of tallest buildings in Milwaukee