100 East Wisconsin, or The Faison Building is a
skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable building having multiple floors. Modern sources currently define skyscrapers as being at least or in height, though there is no universally accepted definition. Skyscrapers are very tall high-ris ...
located in downtown
Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
,
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
. Erected in 1989 on the site of the old
Pabst Building
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 ...
, its design is reflective of the
German-American architecture that has been preserved in downtown Milwaukee, much like Detroit's
Ally Detroit Center
Ally Detroit Center, formerly One Detroit Center, is a skyscraper and class-A office building located in Downtown Detroit, overlooking the Detroit Financial District. Rising , the 43-story tower is the tallest office building in Michigan and th ...
. The building is bordered on the west by the
Milwaukee River along the
Milwaukee Riverwalk
The Milwaukee Riverwalk is a continuous pedestrian walkway along the Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Description
Conceived in the 1990s to increase public access to the waterway, the Milwaukee Riverwalk has grown to include ar ...
. It is the third tallest building in
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
, behind the
U.S. Bank Center, and the
Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons also located in downtown Milwaukee.
History
The location of 100 East Wisconsin at the northwest corner of East Wisconsin avenue and North Water Street has historically been viewed as the oldest building site within the city.
This was the location of Milwaukee's first European settlement by Henry Vieau, the site of city founder
Solomon Juneau
Solomon Laurent Juneau, or Laurent-Salomon Juneau (August 9, 1793 – November 14, 1856) was a French Canadian fur trader, land speculator, and politician who helped found the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born in Repentigny, Quebec, Canad ...
's original cabin and trading post constructed in 1820 and the site of the , 14-story
Pabst Building
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 ...
constructed in 1891 and demolished in 1981.
After failing to develop a high-rise called River Place in the early 1980s, the owners of the property at 100 East Wisconsin sold the property to
Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont (United States), Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Meckl ...
developer Faison Associates in December 1987.
Following the purchase, in January 1987 Faison released renderings of the tower designed by the Charlotte architecture firm of Clark, Tribble, Harris & Li.
The tower was to rise as the second tallest building in the city, behind the
U.S. Bank Center, contain of office space and 410
parking space
A parking space, parking place or parking spot is a location that is designated for parking, either paved or unpaved. It can be in a parking garage, in a parking lot or on a city street. The space may be delineated by road surface markings. ...
s.
With plans in place, in March 1987 workers began
deconstruct of the park in place at the location of the tower.
The landscaping removed was relocated to
Marquette University
Marquette University () is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Henni, John Martin ...
and the
benches donated to the West End Community Center.
Construction of the concrete framed structure began in mid-1987 with occupancy occurring in April 1989.
Architecture
Designed by Clark, Tribble, Harris & Li, the tower features a rectangular footprint and is topped with a crown similar to that of the former Pabst Building and the
Milwaukee City Hall
The Milwaukee City Hall is a skyscraper and town hall located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was finished in 1895, and was Milwaukee's tallest building until completion of the First Wisconsin Center in 1973. The Milwaukee City Hall was ...
.
Additionally, the arches at the base were designed also to pay homage to those at the base of the Pabst Building of the Flemish Renaissance style.
See also
*
List of tallest buildings in Milwaukee
The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is home to 119 high-rise buildings or skyscrapers, 55 of which stand at or taller. The majority of the city's tallest buildings are located north of the Interstate 794, south of Juneau Avenue, east of Interstate ...
References
{{Milwaukee Skyscrapers
Skyscraper office buildings in Milwaukee
Office buildings completed in 1989