The $456 million Wisconsin Center expansion will bring the exposition hall to 300,000 contiguous square feet; add 24 new meeting rooms for a total of 52; included 400 indoor parking spaces; add 6 loading docks for a total of 22; an additional kitchen; and feature a spectacular fourth floor rooftop ballroom with space for a minimum of 2,000 for a seated dinner and outdoor terraces.  The Wisconsin Center expansion will double the convention center space totaling 445,000 square feet, allowing the Wisconsin Center to host multiple events simultaneously.

EUA and TVS are the project architects with GRAEF as the primary structural engineer.  Gilbane|Smith is the construction manager, CD Smith is the concrete sub-contractor, and Ozinga is the ready-mix concrete supplier.  Jason Gross, lead engineer at GRAEF for the concrete structure, will provide a tour of the project under construction.  The building is being constructed full height from west to east.  During the scheduled time of the tour, large 90’ span steel trusses will be erected on the west end, concrete floor levels will continue to be poured in the center section, and the remaining pile caps will be poured on the east end. 

The tour will showcase engineering challenges such as the lowering of existing pile caps, a skybridge erected through the barrel vault over Wells Street, a column removal in the existing building (not an easy feat), and utilizing PS=0 lockable dowels to provide a temporary expansion joint.  The mix design is implementing CarbonCure in the 5,000-psi concrete.  And portions of the budling are being poured with 8,000 psi concrete and other areas require mass concrete mitigation techniques. 

Please note typical PPE will be required for the tour.  Pre-tour meet up location will be near the corner of Kilbourne and North 6th street near the job trailers and the site gate entrance.