Milwaukee Public Museum releases renderings of new $240M museum building (SLIDESHOW)

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The architects helping the Milwaukee Public Museum design a new $240 million museum building released renderings Monday showing what they’re plans will lead to when they take shape.

The building’s exterior, as designed by Ennead Architects and Kahler Slater, would be a nod to geological formations known as sea stacks found in Mill Bluff State Park in the western part of the state. And its rounded corners are meant to be reminiscent of rock that has been eroded over time by wind and water.

The new building will have 200,000 square feet of space and stand five stories tall at the corner of Sixth and Vilet streets. Its first floor will have an open museum atrium and its upper four stories will house exhibits.

Construction work on the project is expected to get underway in 2023 and the new building is to open in 2026. Mortenson and ALLCON LLC have been enlisted as the main contractors.

The Milwaukee Public Museum also announced Monday that it has started its public fundraising-campaign for the new museum building. The non-profit organization has already raised $110 million for the project. Of that, $40 million has come from the state of Wisconsin, $45 million from Milwaukee County and $25 million from private donors.