Join AIA Milwaukee for a construction tour of the Milwaukee Recreation Community Center (MRCC).

Located on Milwaukee’s Northwest side, the Milwaukee Recreation Community Center (MRCC) is a vibrant expansion and renovation of the former 7.5 acre Browning School building and Playfield site. MRCC offers gymnasiums, an elevated walking track, indoor pool and locker rooms, enrichment & fitness classrooms, teaching kitchen, expanded Milwaukee Recreation office spaces, and full ADA access to all indoor and outdoor facilities. Outdoor programming includes green space, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, a pump track, walking paths, splash pad and playground equipment. This $54 million investment fills a critical service gap for a variety of recreation, wellness and sports programming needs for community members of all ages and abilities.

This tour offers members an exclusive opportunity to experience the project alongside the design team during its mid-stage construction. Attendees will gain insight into how design considerations were made for the non-registered, yet historic existing school building as it meets the new construction. The tour will also provide an opportunity for discussion around code required fire separation, designing around varying building heights, balancing material selection with owner specifications, and balancing the indoor/outdoor connections.

The project is expected to be complete in late Spring 2027. This is an active construction site and therefore PPE is required. Limited onsite parking within the parking lot and free street parking is available on a first-come basis.

Details:

• Tour: 4:00-5:00pm; Happy Hour to follow at 5:30pm @ Lion's Tail Brewing Co. in Tosa.
• Check-in with an AIA Milwaukee officer at the jobsite trailer located at the southwest side of the site. 
• PPE: Closed-toed shoes, Hard Hats with Chin Strap, Safety Glasses, and Vests are required. *Please note, hardhat with chin strap is required.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the design considerations involved in working with a complex program, responding to and preserving an historic school building, and creating a cohesive design that welcomes the community while providing functional and open office spaces for the MKE Rec's main office relocation.
• Gain insights into how building code requirements shaped design decisions and created opportunities through fire separation and building areas.
• Discuss how community engagement informed the design program and how multiple site massing iterations led to the final design approach.
• Gain insights into the collaborative process among the project team, examining how coordination, field observations, and on-site modifications were leveraged to achieve the project's design intent for both the building and site.

Presenters:

• Emily Neal, Assoc. AIA, Project Manager, Quorum Architects
• Ryan Frank, AIA, Project Architect, OPN Architects
• Joe Kwiatkowski, Project Superintendent II, CG Schmidt

Submitted for AIA/CES approval

No refunds day of event.

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