C.D. Smith selected as general contractor for mixed-use Northwestern Mutual tower

Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. today announced it has selected Fond du Lac-based C.D. Smith Construction Inc. to serve as the general contractor that will build the 34-story mixed-use real estate development at 777 N. Van Buren St. adjacent to Northwestern Mutual’s downtown Milwaukee corporate headquarters campus.

The $100 million development will include high-end residential and retail space as well as a large parking structure. According to plans announced in October, the building will have 308 high-end apartments units and 16 penthouse units, ground-floor retail space, a plaza at the corner of Mason Street and Van Buren, eight stories of parking with 1,100 parking spaces, a ninth floor rooftop swimming pool, an outdoor fire pit, an indoor golf simulator and a large fitness center.

“We believe this project, like our Tower and Commons, will continue to fuel Milwaukee’s renaissance by drawing more jobs, businesses and residents to downtown,” said Tom Zale, vice president and head of Northwestern Mutual Real Estate, the company’s real estate arm. “C.D. Smith has the expertise and experience to bring our vision to life, and we look forward to partnering with them on this exciting project.”

C.D. Smith joins the design and construction team including development manager Hines, design architect Solomon Cordwell Buenz, and structural engineer Magnusson Klemencic Associates.

The development will be built on property Northwestern Mutual owns on the block bounded by North Van Buren, North Jackson, East Mason and East Wells streets. A 26-story apartment tower with 308 high-end apartments and 14 penthouse units will sit above an eight-story parking garage. There will be approximately 1,400 parking stalls for Northwestern Mutual employees and building residents, with some stalls available to the public. Retail space will be available on the ground floor.

The demolition work at the site is under way, and groundbreaking is anticipated in late spring. Northwestern Mutual expects the project to be completed and occupied by spring 2018.