Construction Underway on 31-Story Mass Timber Tower in Milwaukee, WI

Crews from C.D. Smith Construction have started work on The Edison, a 31-story, 378-unit mass timber mixed-use high rise in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, according to The Daily Reporter (3-18-25).

Madison-based Neutral first announced the project in 2021 with hopes to break ground in 2024Q2. This January, the developer said it secured $133 million in financing which let the project move forward.

When completed in early 2027, it will be the tallest mass timber residential building in the US. The current record holder, The Ascent—also in Milwaukee—was developed by New Land Enterprises in 2024.

Designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, The Edison will include 7,200 square feet of ground-floor retail space and hundreds of apartments. The first eight floors will be constructed with post-tensioned concrete, with mass timber used throughout the rest of the structure, according to project plans.

Chicago-based Forefront Structural Engineers is providing structural engineering services, while Chicago-based dbHMS is overseeing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, as well as sustainability. Mass timber for the project is supplied by Stora Enso and WIEHAG Timber Construction GmbH, with financing from Bank OZK and Pearlmark.

In July 2024, Neutral was selected by the Department of City Development in response to a request for proposals to redevelop the Marcus Center parking garage on Water Street. Neutral’s plan includes three mixed-use, mass timber skyscrapers designed by Michael Green Architecture, with a later phase featuring a 50-story mass timber tower.