World’s Tallest Mass-Timber Building Envisioned in Milwaukee

The Neutral Project, LLC, has been selected by the City of Milwaukee to redevelop an underutilized city-controlled site: the Marcus Performing Arts Center parking garage at 101 North Water Street, Woodworking Network was among outlets to report in July. With a total investment of approximately US$700 million, the proposal includes a mass-timber building or buildings that would “dwarf” the world’s current tallest mass-timber building, the 284.1-ft-tall Ascent, also in Milwaukee and served by an Otis elevator system. Designed by mass-timber specialist MGA | Michael Green Architecture, the tall timber Water Street project could include up to 750 residential units, 190,000 ft² of office space, 40,000 ft² of retail, 300 hotel rooms, 1,100 parking spaces and outdoor public space. A Neutral Project spokesman said the development would aim to achieve internationally recognized Passive House certification and become a “groundbreaking model for sustainable development — not just in the U.S., but on a global scale.”