Milwaukee’s ‘Big Blue Building’ to Undergo Partial Conversion to Apartments

Milwaukee, WI, August 25, 2026 —

A significant redevelopment project is set to transform a portion of the prominent “Big Blue Building” located at 310 W. Wisconsin Ave. in Milwaukee into residential units. The plan involves converting the east tower of the building into approximately 220 apartments, a move aimed at addressing the issue of vacant office space in the city’s downtown core.

The Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority has given its approval for a $6.44 million tax incremental financing (TIF) subsidy to support this conversion. This financial incentive is intended to facilitate the transformation of the office space into much-needed housing.

While the east tower will be redeveloped for residential use, the west tower of the “Big Blue Building” is planned to remain as office space. This dual-purpose approach seeks to balance the needs of both commercial and residential sectors within the historic structure.

This initiative aligns with a larger trend observed in downtown Milwaukee, where several office buildings are being considered or are undergoing conversion to residential units. Such conversions are seen as a strategy to revitalize urban centers, increase housing availability, and adapt to changing market demands for commercial real estate.

Further details regarding the timeline for the conversion and the specific contractors involved were not immediately available.

Story summarized from the original created by Jeramey Jannene on urbanmilwaukee.com, see more information here.

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