Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. Inc. today announced the selection of the team of Gilbane Building Co. and Milwaukee-based C.G. Schmidt Inc. as the general contractor for construction of its new 1.1 million-square-foot tower and commons on Milwaukee’s lakefront.
With the naming of the partnership, additional vendors will be hired to help reshape the city’s skyline.
Northwestern Mutual expects to invest approximately $450 million for design and construction of the complex, which will preserve 1,100 downtown jobs while creating 1,900 new jobs.
“From day one, we wanted to find a general contractor that shares our core values and believes strongly in the commitment we’ve made to the city of Milwaukee to provide opportunities to local residents and small business enterprises,” said Sandy Botcher, Northwestern Mutual vice president and project leader. “We found that in Gilbane and C.G. Schmidt, and we’re excited to work side-by-side with them to make our vision a reality.”
Construction of the 32-story office tower and three story common space is scheduled to start later this year and be completed by 2017. The project will create more than 1,000 construction-related jobs.
“Gilbane is honored to be selected as an integrated construction partner on this iconic addition to downtown Milwaukee,” said Adam Jelen, senior vice president of Gilbane Building’s Milwaukee office. “We believe our focus on the Milwaukee community, complementary values, and 141-year history will assist Northwestern Mutual’s project team in delivering a world-class facility.”
Gilbane, which is based in Providence, R.I., and C.G. Schmidt share a history of working together.
“We are also honored to be a part of a project that will transform our hometown,” said Rick Schmidt, president and CEO of C.G. Schmidt. “Helping Northwestern Mutual meet their goals and making a positive impact on the community we’ve been a part of for 94 years is tremendously rewarding for C.G. Schmidt. This project will be monumental for Milwaukee.”
Northwestern Mutual has already hired about 50 Wisconsin-based companies, including more than 30 local small business enterprises (SBEs), to help with a variety of roles related to the overall project. The work includes renovation of the company’s Van Buren office building, designing elements of the tower and commons, demolishing an existing 16-story structure on the building site and relocating utilities.
As the construction phase moves forward, the company is working with Hines, the project’s development manager, and Prism Technical, a business management company, to proactively communicate the opportunities that exist for additional SBEs to be involved in the project. Northwestern Mutual has committed to use SBEs for at least 25 percent of the total construction cost and Milwaukee residents for 40 percent of the hours on the construction site.
The company has already actively engaged with local chambers of commerce, industry representatives, and other community-based organizations to promote opportunities and enlist their support to meet the hiring goals. More than 100 community-based organizations have also been invited to an information forum at Northwestern Mutual. They will hear the latest updates on the project, meet the general contractor, and learn how to help give their constituents the opportunity to participate.
“It’s vital that the community be a partner as we create a signature development all of Milwaukee can be proud of,” said Botcher. “Partnering with local firms, SBEs and Milwaukee residents will help lead the way in creating even more jobs that will move our community forward.”
Botcher added that Hines and Prism will also be providing assistance to non-certified SBEs to pursue certification, a move that will continue to benefit SBEs long after the tower and commons are built.
Initial work will include selective demolition, concrete, steel, excavation, civil work, and earth retention, along with other earthwork, site utilities, foundations and superstructure. Support needs will include equipment rental, construction cranes, fencing, clean-up, flagmen, street cleaning, trucking, scaffolding, overhead protection, site dewatering, roadwork and trash removal.
Interested vendors can learn more about the opportunities by contacting Jodell Potter at (414) 287-2600 or jpotter@gilbaneco.com.
