Baird Center on track for May opening as expansion reaches substantial completion

The $456 million Baird Center expansion on Friday reached substantial completion, meaning the building is fit for intended use and employees can go inside without protective gear. The project is in its final inspections and systems testing phase and will open on May 16 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gala.

The convention center will open to the public for the first time on May 18 from 1-5 p.m., for those who want to explore the expanded building.

The 1.3 million-square-foot Baird Center will secure larger, more prominent events and help fill Milwaukee hotels and restaurants and bring business to local stores, officials said. The project is expected to stimulate at least $12.6 billion in spending in the state over 30 years and generate at least $150 million in incremental state income, officials added.

The project included sustainable features such as a solar roof, stormwater management system, bird-friendly glass and an on-site food digester, officials said. There will be inclusive measures such as on-site sensory rooms, nursing mother’s rooms and all-gender restrooms for clients, guests and employees.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the work that’s been done to make this project inclusive, sustainably and diverse,” said Marty Brooks, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District. “Thanks to aggressive recruitment efforts made by our construction manager, Gilbane | Smith, this project was truly built for Milwaukee, by Milwaukee,” he added.

The project also exceeded its diverse business goals and most of its workforce goals. Gilbane Building Co. and C.D. Smith Construction are the expansion general contractors.

The Baird Center contracted with 25.3% minority-owned businesses out of a 25% goal. The project also engaged 16.5% women-owned businesses (5% goal) and 1% disabled-veteran-owned businesses (1% goal.) The center also surpassed its overall business inclusion goal by 11.7%.

For on-site labor, the project workforce was made up of 47.9% workers from Milwaukee’s most underserved zip codes, beyond the RPP’s 40% goal. The project also hired 1.2% of disabled veterans (1% goal) and 42% minority workers (25% goal.)

The project engaged 4.5% women construction workers, short of the 5% goal. In March, Gilbane officials said that goal was hard to reach with the current pool of trades workers.

According to a Wisconsin Policy Forum study, only four of 17 responding unions said 5% of their members were women.