Restoring the Pritzlaff Hardware Co. complex in Milwaukee, Wis., included building a new parking structure that takes its design cues from the original buildings. The structure is 119,000 ft² and offers 300 parking spaces, plus an amenity that is being incorporated in more parking structures nowadays: a rooftop patio.

The top level was designed for tenants to use as an event space for weddings, parties, and other celebrations. It features a patio with built-in gas grills.

Read more about this project in the Summer 2020 issue of Ascent.

Architect

Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates

Structural Engineer

Spire Engineering

Parking Structure Construction Manager

Selzer Ornst Co.

Owner

Sunset Investors

Precast Concrete Producer

Wells

Key Project Attributes

• Primary challenge in designing the parking structure as the layout.
• Double tees provide maximized spans that other building materials cannot, while keeping safety at the forefront.
• The owner initially considered cast-in-place, balked because it was considerably more expensive than precast concrete.

Project/Precast Scope

• 300 spaces
• 119,000 sf
• 278 pieces