Announcing the Inaugural 25 Year Award Recipient

AIA Wisconsin is proud to announce that the Marquette University Haggerty Museum of Art in Milwaukee, WI has been selected as the recipient of the organization's inaugural 25 Year Award. 

Introduced as part of the 2026 AIA Wisconsin Design Awards program, the 25 Year Award recognizes one exemplary architectural project that has stood the test of time and continues to set standards of excellence for its architectural design and significance, both in its original form and by today's standards. Eligible projects must have been completed between 1975 and 2000 and located in Wisconsin. The award celebrates architecture that has demonstrated lasting impact, enduring relevance, and continued service to its users and community more than 25 years after completion. 

The inaugural award attracted eight submissions from across Wisconsin, representing projects that continue to shape the state's built environment decades after they were first constructed. Following a thorough review process, the jury selected Marquette University’s Haggerty Museum of Art for its enduring architectural quality, adaptability, and continued cultural and educational significance. 

Photo Credit: Howard N Kaplan © HNK Architectural Photography 1985 + Peter McCullough, McCullough Photo + Drone 2026

“For over 40 years, the Haggerty Museum of Art has been an important cultural asset for Milwaukee, demonstrating how thoughtful design can strengthen institutions and their communities. We are honored to see this project recognized by AIA Wisconsin, particularly as we remember David Kahler. His leadership helped bring the museum to reality and his design legacy continues to shape the fabric of our city. The museum’s design has stood the test of time because it continues to create meaningful experiences for the people who learn, gather, and connect there. Its continued relevance is a powerful reminder that great architecture has the power to enrich life for generations.”
- Al Krueger, AIA, Chief Executive Officer of Kahler Slater & Project Nominator

Completed in 1984, the Haggerty Museum of Art was designed by architecture firms Ford, Powell & Carson (San Antonio) and Kahler Slater (Milwaukee). The project was originally led by renowned architect O'Neil Ford, FAIA, with David Kahler, FAIA, guiding the project through completion following Ford's passing in 1982. Kahler, who passed away earlier this year, was also responsible for numerous notable Wisconsin landmarks, including the restoration of the Wisconsin State Capitol and the Milwaukee Art Museum's Bradley Wing addition and Quadracci Pavilion. 

Photo Credit: Howard N Kaplan © HNK Architectural Photography 1985 + Peter McCullough, McCullough Photo + Drone 2026

"An exceptional example of postmodern architecture, the Haggerty Museum of Art has transcended its role as a single building to become a transformative presence on the campus and a lasting cultural landmark." 
- Stacey Z. Keller, AIA, NOMA (2026 25 Year Award Juror)

The Haggerty Museum of Art is distinguished by a design that balances modernist principles with contextual sensitivity. The building features a sculptural copper-clad roof that references the Neo-Gothic architecture found throughout the Marquette University campus while bringing carefully controlled natural light into gallery spaces. Organized around flexible exhibition environments and intuitive circulation, the museum has successfully accommodated evolving exhibitions, technologies, and educational needs while maintaining its architectural identity. 

Photo Credit: Peter McCullough, McCullough Photo + Drone 2026

“Over time, the building has demonstrated a high degree of spatial and functional adaptability, accommodating exhibits with markedly different curatorial and presentation requirements. While it could have been executed as a simple opaque volume with all activity contained internally, its exterior articulation conveys intentional refinement, and its massing, detailing, and formal vocabulary clearly reflect the post-modern influences of its era.”
- Chris Rute, AIA RIBA (2026 25 Year Award Juror)

Beyond its architectural qualities, the museum has served for more than four decades as a cultural, academic, and civic resource for both Marquette University and the broader Milwaukee community. Its continued ability to support changing exhibitions, educational programming, and community engagement reflects the kind of long-term value and resilience the 25 Year Award was created to recognize. 

Photo Credit: Howard N Kaplan © HNK Architectural Photography 1985 + Peter McCullough, McCullough Photo + Drone 2026

"This building has exerted its presence at Marquette University, in Milwaukee, and throughout the arts community at the national and international levels. Its design has served as a catalyst for development and a beacon of culture with an architectural style that remains relevant." 
- Lisa L. Kennedy, FAIA (2026 25 Year Award Juror)

The project was selected by a distinguished jury of AIA Wisconsin architect members: Stacey Z. Keller, AIA, NOMA (Senior Architect at InSite Consulting Architects and 2026 AIA Wisconsin President); Lisa L. Kennedy, FAIA (2026-27 Treasurer of the American Institute of Architects); Chris Rute, AIA, RIBA (Principal at CR Design and Adjunct Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture & Urban Planning); and Jessica Timmer, AIA (Senior Vice President and Residential Practice Leader at RINKA). 

“Projects that stand the test of time, that we as architects would want to protect because they have earned that distinction...The Haggerty Museum of Art has been invaluable to the university and the city, and while it is clearly of its era, it has continued to be used successfully and appreciated for decades.” 
- Jessica Timmer, AIA (2026 25 Year Award Juror)

2026 Design Awards Gala 
As the inaugural recipient of the 25 Year Award, the Marquette University Haggerty Museum of Art will be recognized alongside the winners of the 2026 AIA Wisconsin Design Awards and celebrated at the 2026 Design Awards Gala on October 2, 2026, at The Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee. The winning project will also be featured in a commemorative video highlighting its legacy, continued relevance, and lasting contribution to Wisconsin's architectural heritage. 

Project Details

Marquette University Haggerty Museum of Art
Date of Substantial Completion: 11/11/1984
Architecture Firm(s): Kahler Slater; Ford, Powell & Carson
Design Architects: O’Neil Ford, AIA and David Kahler, FAIA
Owner: Marquette University
General Contractor: Siesel Construction Company
Photography: Peter McCullough, McCullough Photo + Drone 2026; Howard N Kaplan © HNK Architectural Photography; Marquette University, Raynor Library, Archival Collections and Institutional Repository