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Mercantile Building + Hanson Dodge

Integrate existing building with an updated + operationally efficient addition

Originally built in 1909, the Mercantile Building in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward added a five-story addition to include first floor retail and four floors of office space that connects to the existing 50,000 sq ft structure. A modern interpretation of the historic neighborhood’s material use, rhythms and patterns, the addition is modern in personality and amenities featuring soaring spaces with abundant daylight, exposed structure and an expansive rooftop deck with lake views.

The new vertical circulation and design integrates with the existing floor plate to provide long term multi-tenant flexibility. Hanson Dodge Creative, an advertising agency, consolidated its operations onto one contiguous floor. The existing space was renovated for improved efficiency, with the private offices moved to the center of the floor plate doubling the amount of daylight entering the space. Ensuring the old, historic building melded with the new, the addition seamlessly integrates existing and new textures, materials and visuals.