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Top Projects of 2025: MCW Center for Cancer Discovery
By: Daily Reporter Staff//May 8, 2026//
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The MCW Center for Cancer Discovery, constructed by Mortenson, is a five-floor, 160,000-plus-square-foot research facility built for the Medical College of Wisconsin to accelerate breakthroughs in cancer treatment and prevention. The building features advanced laboratory environments, research suites, collaborative workspaces and highly specialized infrastructure supporting scientific innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Delivering a project of this scale required intensive Building Information Modeling coordination, allowing Mortenson and its trade partners to identify and resolve system clashes prior to installation. Trade partners leveraged the digital model to prefabricate major MEP components offsite, reducing waste, improving quality control and enhancing worker safety. Architecturally exposed concrete columns, radius deck edges and a geofoam-filled decorative stair landing required exceptional craftsmanship and precise coordination.
Mortenson navigated a union operator strike while maintaining jobsite safety and team cohesion. Through disciplined value engineering, the team identified $4.5 million in savings — preserving design intent while ultimately enabling the addition of a rooftop patio.
The project also served as a workforce development platform. Mortenson partnered with local high schools over two academic years, providing site visits, classroom instruction and hands-on experiences. Those engagements directly produced six apprentices by 2025. The facility strengthens Wisconsin’s position as a leader in cancer research while attracting top-tier researchers and accelerating treatment innovation.
Project Essentials
Location: Milwaukee
Cost: $ 120,000,000
Complete: July 2025
Owner/Developer: Medical College of Wisconsin
Architect: Cannon Design
Interior Designer: Quorum Architects
Engineer: GRAEF
General Contractor: Mortenson
Submitting Company: Mortenson
Subcontractors: All Star Elevator, American National Insulation, Anytime Safety Services, Avi Systems, Bluvera, CC&N, Ceco Concrete Construction, Common Links Construction, Cross Management Services, Daigle Brothers, Dairyland Energy Solutions, Duet Resource Group, Duwe Metal Products, Exterior Building Services, Fire Detection Group, Floorcare USA, Gateway Concrete Forming Systems, Grunau Co., Hammel Green And Abrahamson, Hetzel Tile, Hetzel-Sanfilippo, HGA Architects and Engineers, Intertek, JP Cullen & Sons, JCP Construction, JM Brennan, Jobsite Supply, Johnson Controls, Just Rite Acoustics, JWC Building Specialties, Kahler Slater, Klein-Dickert Milwaukee, KMI Construction, Krueger International, LaForce, Langer Roofing & Sheet Metal, Lannon Millwork, Lemberg Electric Co., Madigan Refrigeration & Energy Systems, Masters Building Solutions, Midwest Drilled Foundations Engineering, MKE Iron Erectors, Munson, Nations Roof North, Northern Illinois Terrazzo & Tile Co., Nucor Harris Rebar Rockford, Nuvision Window Films, Otis Elevator Co., Payne & Dolan, PCF-CLC Construction, Peachy Clean, Petroleum Equipment, Postorino Decorating, Potratz Concrete Pumping South, Professional Service Industries, raSmith, Rams Contracting, Regency Janitorial Service, Ring & Duchateau, Rivcrete Ready Mix, Selzer-Ornst Construction Co., SiteGuard Safety Services, SRS Roofing & Sheet Metal, Staff Electric Co., Stano Landscaping, Stark Pavement, Stonhard Division Of Stoncor Group, Sunbelt Rentals, The Concord Group, Toepfer Security Corp., U.S Smoke and Fire, United Flooring, United Landshapers, Waukesha Air & Vapor Barrier, Wellenstein and Sons, White Cap, Wisconsin Contractors Supply, WJ Higgins & Associates, Wynn O. Jones & Associates, Zander Solutions, ZS
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