PAVE Milwaukee, an education-focused nonprofit organization, will gain 1,000 square feet as it relocates its offices to the Matthews Building on Wisconsin Avenue today.
The nonprofit, which works to build strong boards for area partner schools, is moving from a 3,000-square-foot space in the Germania Building at 135 W. Wells Street, Suite 850, to a 4,000-square-foot space in the Matthews Building, located at 301 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 300.
The move was prompted by Vangard Group LLC’s plans to convert the Germania Building into 70 “affordable” apartments.
“That was the main driver,” said Michelle Burmeister, communications director of PAVE.
PAVE has leased office space in the Germania Building for eight years, according to Burmeister. The organization agreed to vacate the building by mid-summer.
While the nonprofit’s old office featured an open cubicle environment, its new office site has more private offices and two large conference rooms. The Matthews Building, connected to the Shops of Grand Avenue, also offers shared conference rooms for its tenants.
The space was formerly occupied by the Greater Milwaukee Committee, according to Burmeister.
The extra square feet will equip PAVE with more space and flexibility to accommodate the organization’s interns and student staff members while also giving it the bandwidth to grow, Burmeister said.
“As we continue to do our work, we may continue to grow and want to add more staff and it would be nice to have the extra space for that as well,” she said.
PAVE currently operates with six full-time and two part-time staff members.
The new site’s central downtown location will also be advantageous as it gives PAVE’s program staffers “quick and easy access to every corner of the city,” Burmeister said, adding that the new location will also be a convenient destination for school officials and board members needing to visit the nonprofit.
PAVE currently collaborates with more than 50 schools located all across Milwaukee.
