List of tallest buildings in Milwaukee


The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is home to 118 high-rise buildings or skyscrapers, 53 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 43, and west of Lincoln Memorial Drive. There are additional high-rises extending northward along Lake Michigan. The tallest building in Milwaukee, and Wisconsin, is the 42-story, tall U.S. Bank Center, which was completed in 1973. The second-tallest is the 32-story, tall Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons building, completed in 2017.
The history of skyscrapers in Milwaukee began with the Pabst Building. Completed in 1891, and standing tall, it was Milwaukee's first skyscraper, and the tallest building in the city until the Milwaukee City Hall was completed four years later. The Pabst Building was demolished in 1981. For nearly eighty years, from 1895 to 1973, City Hall dominated the skyline, and was at the time of its completion, the tallest habitable building in the United States. A significant building boom occurred in the 1960s, resulting in eleven of the top sixteen tallest buildings of the time having been built in that decade, and then between 1985 and 1991, six of the eight tallest buildings of the time were constructed. But a third significant building boom in the twenty-first century includes the construction of the Moderne, a skyscraper with luxury condominiums, the 833 East Michigan office building, the Potawatomi Casino Hotel, the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons, and the 34-story, 387 ft tall 7Seventy7 Residential tower, all built since 2012. Future under-construction or approved skyscrapers include the 44-story, 537 ft tall Couture, a mixed-use tower with high-end residential apartments and retail space, the 25-story, 335 ft tall BMO Harris Financial Center, a second 19-story, 307 ft tall Potawatomi Casino Tower, and the resurrected 27-story, 301 ft tall Goll Mansion Apartment Tower, resulting in ten of the sixteen tallest buildings in the city having been constructed since 2005. Another six high-rises have been proposed since the beginning of 2017.

Tallest buildings

This list ranks the fifty tallest Milwaukee skyscrapers 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.
RankNameImageHeight
ft / m		FloorsYearNotesReference
1U.S. Bank Center601 / 183.0421973Tallest building in the state; previously called the First Wisconsin Center and the Firstar Center. The building won a Distinguished Building Award from the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1974.
2Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons550 / 167.6322017Largest building in Wisconsin by square footage, and the second-tallest in the state. The tower was completed in August 2017.
3100 East Wisconsin549 / 167.3371989Designed 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.
4University Club Tower446 / 135.9362007Tallest building constructed in the 21st century, until the Northwestern Mutual Tower.
5Associated Bank River Center426 / 129.8281988Second-tallest building in Milwaukee at the time it was completed. In 2016 Associated Bank, Purchased the building for 60.5 million dollars.
6411 East Wisconsin Center408 / 124.4301985Constructed 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.
7Northwestern Mutual North Tower395 / 120.4191990The light blue pyramid at the top is lit at night.
87Seventy7387/118342018The residential tower includes 310 apartments, parking, retail, and a public plaza.
9Kilbourn Tower380 / 115.8342005Luxury condominiums in Milwaukee. Example: In 2018 the entire 31st floor is a condominium which was priced at 1.8 million.
10Milwaukee City Hall353 / 107.6151895Tallest habitable building in the world for more than four years after completion ; tallest building in Milwaukee for nearly 80 years.
Was the tallest building in Milwaukee before being surpassed by U.S. Bank Center.
11The Moderne348 / 106.1312012Tallest building in Wisconsin west of the Milwaukee River.
12BMO Harris Financial Center335/102252019The bank's new 360,000-square-foot, 25-story office tower is targeted for completion in late 2019. Demolition began in November 2017 on the parking garage next to BMO Harris's current location at 770 N. Water St.
13Miller Park330 / 100.54842001Tallest Stadium in the MLB and Wisconsin.
14The Potawatomi Casino Hotel307 / 93.6212014With the 2019 expansion of a second tower, the hotel will reach 500 rooms.
151000 North Water Street296 / 90.2161991The light pink facade and windows give it a unique appearance in Milwaukee's skyline. The building also in home to the Milwaukee field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
16Yankee Hill Apartments 1292.91 / 89.28231987High end residential rental units in downtown Milwaukee.
17Chase Tower288 / 87.8221961Second-tallest building in Milwaukee at the time it was completed. Once the site of Maritime 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.
18Allen-Bradley Clock Tower283 / 86.3171962The world's second-largest four-sided clock sits atop this tower.
19Wisconsin Tower280 / 85.3221930Second-tallest building in Milwaukee at the time of its completion in 1930. The 22 story Art-Deco tower was converted into 74 condominiums in 2006.
20BMO Harris Bank Building277 / 84.4211969Former headquarters of M&I Bank, the largest bank based in Wisconsin.
21Bay View Terrace275 / 83.8251964Tallest building on Milwaukee's south side. The north and south facades have no windows, save for the balcony doors.
22Hilton Milwaukee City Center274 / 83.5251927The antenna on top makes the total height of the building 630 feet, and this hotel is the largest in Milwaukee when measured by the number of rooms.
23Diamond Tower267.44 / 81.5211982Contains 113 condos.
24St. Johns on the Lake267.44 / 81.5212011
25Regency House265 / 80.8271969High Rise in "East Town" neighborhood. In 1974 the apartments were sold as condominiums.
26Juneau Village264 / 80.5271965The building is owned by Lore Hauck. Rent starts at $600 for a one bedroom.
27The BreakWater260 / 79.2212009
28833 East Michigan258 / 78.7172016
29633 Building252 / 76.8201962In 2017 a real estate developer purchased the building.
30Wisconsin Gas Building250 / 76.2201930The light on top turns either red, blue, or gold depending on the weather forecast for the following day.
31The Pfister Hotel250 / 76.2211965Hotel dates back to the late 19th century. Visitors have claimed it is haunted. The tower was added to the hotel in 1965.
32Basilica of St. Josaphat250 / 76.211897The Basilica of St. Josaphat is the tallest church in Milwaukee. The dome on this church is the world's sixth largest.
33Locust Court Apartments250 / 76.2241969In 2019 the Milwaukee Housing Authority is considering tearing the building down to make way for a mixed income development.
34Arlington Court Apartments250 / 76.2241969This high rise is managed by the Milwaukee Housing Authority. In order to live in this building a tenant must be 50 years old or older, or be an adult with a Disability.
35Landmark on the Lake248 / 75.6271991The 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.
36Cathedral Place244 / 74.4192004A 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.
37UW-Milwaukee's Sandburg Residence Hall, North Tower243 / 74.1271971The North Tower's height reaches 482 feet with the antenna.
38Riverview Apartments242/ 73.8 191964This 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.
39Yankee Hill Apartments 2242 / 73.8231987
40The Potawatomi Casino Hotel Tower II242 / 73.8192019Addition of 119 rooms and suites to bring the hotel total to 500 rooms.
41Hyatt Regency229.24 / 69.87181980
42250 Plaza229.24 / 69.87181973Klug & Smith Co designed the 14 story office building on the site. The 19-story Contemporary-style tower was designed by Perkins & Will
43Straz Tower229.24 / 69.87181954Formerly the YMCA Building. This building is on the Marquette University Campus.
44Cudahy Tower224/ 68161928
45Park Lafayette North Tower221/ 67.3202009
46Park Lafayette South Tower221/ 67.3202009
47Catholic Financial Life Building220/ 67.1181970
48Prospect Tower217/ 66.1231964
49City Center at 735216/ 65.8161914
50AT&T Building213 / 64.9191924
51Wells Building212/ 64.6151901
52310W 210/ 64.0141983
53Edgewater Terrace203.76/ 62.1171967There are 74 residential condominiums in the tower— 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units.

Tallest under construction, approved, and proposed

This lists buildings that are under construction, approved, or proposed in Milwaukee.
NameImageHeight
feet / m		FloorsYearStatusNotesReference
St. Johns on the lake - 2nd high-rise tower220+/67+222020Under ConstructionAnnounced in January 2017, the $80 million tower will be built on an existing parking lot. Site demolition began in January 2018, and groundbreaking took place on April 13, 2018.
Masonic Center Hotel234/71182021ApprovedThe 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.
Goll Mansion Apartment Tower301/91.74272020ApprovedA 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.
The Couture537/163442020ApprovedProposed by County Executive Chris Abele on July 11, 2012, it will house 302 luxury apartments, and will be the fourth-tallest building in the state. Demolition was completed in February 2017, but obtaining a financing guarantee delayed construction. A preliminary approval of the financing guarantee by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development was announced on November 2, 2018, with a promise of a formal decision in 60 days. That decision is now multiple months past due. However, on December 11, 2019 a report surfaced stating the Couture builders have secured the remaining financing required to begin construction in a matter of months. This was confirmed on June 26, 2020, when the developer announced equity funding had been secured earlier in the month and they had resubmitted the project for HUD funding.
Ascent MKE284/87252021ApprovedA proposed 25-story, 493,000 sq. ft. structure built of timber, instead of concrete and steel, would house 265 luxury apartments. It is scheduled to break ground during the fall of 2020. Will be the world's largest timber structure upon completion.
PortfolioUnknown202020ProposedA proposed 20-story, $100 million apartment tower is to include 176 apartments. It was scheduled to break ground during the 3rd quarter of 2019, but no updates have been announced regarding construction.
1433 N Water Street240+/73+24UnknownProposedThe 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.
Edison Place240/73.220UnknownProposedMix-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.
Third Ward High RiseUnknown20-30UnknownProposedThe ultimate function of the building will serve as a hotel or apartments, but nothing has been announced regarding the project since February 2017.
The Caroline390'322022ProposedAnnounced 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.

Timeline of tallest buildings