Harley-Davidson headquarters and Davidson Park. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.

The City of Milwaukee is recognizing the best in design through its 28th annual Mayor’s Design Awards.

A total of 25 projects are being recognized, a sizable increase from 2024. The awardees including everything from two skyline-altering towers to painting turn lanes.

An in-person ceremony to recognize the winners is being held Friday evening at the UW-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning. Mayor Cavalier Johnson is leading the ceremony.

Administered by the Department of City Development, the awards program began under Mayor John Norquist and was continued by Mayor Tom Barrett. The 2025 awards are the fourth under Johnson.

Places & Spaces

The following projects have found unique opportunities to contribute to the character of their neighborhoods and have made our streets and public spaces more attractive and inviting by engaging the public, enhancing public infrastructure, and creating meaningful community spaces for all to enjoy.

Carmen Playfield and Stark Playfield – Two MKE REC playfields – Milwaukee Recreation, Quorum Architects, Site Design Group, Poblocki Paving
MPS Green & Health Schools Cohort 6 – Five Milwaukee Public Schools properties – Milwaukee Public Schools, Reflo, SmithGroup, UWM Community Design Solutions – Prior Coverage
Right-Turn Slip Lane Murals – N. 27th St. and W. Highland Blvd. and S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. and W. Lapham Blvd. – Department of Public Works, LUNA, LLC, Near West Side Partners, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, Irma Roman, Phoenix Brown, Kozi Youth, UMOS Raices, Milwaukee High School of the Arts – Prior Coverage
National DIY Skatepark – 801 W. National Ave. – National DIY Skatepark, Inc, Wisconsin Department of Transportation – Prior Coverage
Beerline Plaza – 3350 N. Holton St. – Riverworks Development Corporation, House of RAD, UWM Design & Build Camp, UWM Community Design Solutions
Vel R. Phillips Plaza – 401-441 W. Wisconsin Ave. – Department of Public Works, HNTB, The Kubala Washatko Architects, Saiki Design, HDR, American Design, Inc., Spire Engineering – Prior Coverage
Davidson Park – 3700 W. Juneau Ave. – Harley-Davidson Foundation, HGA, Heatherwick Studio, Greenfire Management Services – Prior Coverage

Vibrant Corridors

The following projects are revitalizing Milwaukee’s commercial corridors by constructing or restoring their properties in a pedestrian-friendly way that activates the public realm, adds new housing or employment opportunities and contributes to the vibrancy and diversity of our

commercial districts.

Havenwoods Taproom and Beer Garden – 5840 N. 60th St. – Chase Jaffray – Prior Coverage
Biersal – 5520 W. Vliet St. – Eric Gutbrod, Randy Gutbrod, Andy Guidinger, PURE Architecture Studio, Bulldog Builders, Biersal Tavern Staff – Prior Coverage
Akara Arts – 3503 S. 16th St. – Scott LaShay, Daniel Dahl, Stacy Dahl
At Random – 2501 S. Delaware Ave. – John Dye – Prior Coverage
Station 1846 – 215 W. Bruce St. – City Tours MKE, Galbraith Carnahan Architects, Design Theory 19, Midwest Construction Corp. – Prior Coverage
Gallery 507 – 507 W. North Ave. – Bronzeville Center for the Arts, Quroum Architects, DSK, LLC, Emem Group, Jordan’s Construction Services, KSingh & Assoc., Ring & DuChateau, Zoe Engineering – Prior Coverage

Neighborhood Renaissance

The following projects are Growing Milwaukee by providing a wide range of new opportunities for City living that strengthen neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life for residents.

CDA Model Homes – 5708 N. 39th St., 1217 S. 35th St., 2232 W. Vine St. – Community Development Alliance, VIA CDC, Lange Bros. Woodwork Co., Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity
EIGHTEEN87 on Water – 1187 N. Water St. – Rule Enterprises, Emem Group, Continuum Architects + Planners, Spire Engineering, The Sigma Group, Catalyst Construction
Riverwest Workforce Apartments & Food Accelerator – 2323 N. Commerce St. – General Capital Group, KG Development, Engberg Anderson, The Sigma Group, Catalyst Construction
The Fitz – 2630 N. Hackett Ave. – DeMichele Co., HGA, JLA Architects, Groth Design Group, Trio Engineers, Catalyst Construction
333 Water – 333 N. Water St. – Hines, Solomon Cordwell Buenz, W.E. O’Neil Construction, S&H Systems
The Couture – 909 E. Michigan St. – Barrett Lo Visionary Development, RINKA, GRAEF, Thornton Tomasetti, Giles, Findorff

Urbanism Redefined

The following projects have made extraordinary contributions to the City’s built environment by constructing or restoring places that enhance the City’s built environment, expand opportunities for education or employment, and facilitate social connections; while raising the bar for major development and contemporary architecture in the City.

UW-Milwaukee Chemistry Building – 2000 E. Kenwood Blvd. – UW-Milwaukee, Cannon Design, Kahler Slater, VJS Construction Services – Prior Coverage
Marquette University College of Nursing (David A. Stratz Jr. Hall) – 1217-1225 W. Wisconsin Ave. – Marquette University, HGA, Findorff – Prior Coverage
Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy – 2212 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave. – Dr. Howard Fuller Academy, Royal Capital Group, Engberg Anderson, CG Schmidt – Prior Coverage
ThriveOn King – 2153 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. – Royal Capital Group, Engberg Anderson Architects, CG Schmidt, Greater Milwaukee Foundation – Prior Coverage
Concordia 27 – 801 N. 27th St. – Wiegand Enterprises, Quroum Architects, Greenfire Management Services, Pierce Engineers, Preserve Design Studio, Near West Side Partners – Prior Coverage
Baird Center Expansion – 405 W. Kilbourn Ave. – Wisconsin Center District, CAA ICON, tvsdesign, Eppstein Uhen Architects, CD Smith, GRAEF, Kapur & Associates –

Urban Milwaukee

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