Confidential Client

A 150,000 SF historic build-out in Milwaukee, WI

Fast Facts

  • 150,000 SF
  • Client: Undisclosed
  • Architect/Design Team: Ted Moudis Associates

Features

  • HQ relocation & modernization
  • Multi-floor buildout
  • Feature staircases
A sleek lounge with wooden slat walls, bar stools, and geometric ceiling lights where a woman sits at a table.

Project goal

When this financial firm chose Milwaukee for their new corporate headquarters, they needed a space built for collaboration

Working alongside StructureTone, Gardner Builders delivered a buildout across four floors of a historic building — turning a complex structure into a modern home for a major organization. At the heart of the design, grand staircases connect each floor, giving the team a space that moves the way they do.

A creative workspace featuring a geometric bear mural, shared desks, and glass-railed stairs with orange accents.
A construction area with a red steel staircase frame and scaffolding beneath unfinished ceilings.

Staying on schedule through obstacles

Coordinating across distance and complexity

The building stayed occupied throughout construction, and the client was based out of state. This combination demanded a clear, consistent communication rhythm from day one.

Additionally, the building's age created technical complexity at every turn. Installing a full commercial kitchen required extensive HVAC and ventilation work threaded carefully through the historic structure, demanding precision and adaptability as conditions evolved. Midway through construction, we uncovered an unexpected elevator shaft — one of several hidden conditions the team worked through in real time without losing ground on schedule or design intent.

An industrial-style office with exposed brick walls, booth seating, and painted text on a black wall.
A partially restored brick interior with large openings and colorful markings on the floor.
A construction site showing metal wall framing, scaffolding, and ladders under a high white ceiling.
A building interior under construction with steel wall framing and concrete floors.

Looking ahead

A modern, collaborative headquarters rooted in a building with history and character

The finished space reflects what the client set out to create. From the connected staircases to the commercial kitchen, every element was executed with the care a project of this scale requires.

Similar Case Studies

See All