Panel praises design of Bucks’ center

OK recommended for entertainment area

A downtown entertainment center that the Milwaukee Bucks will develop just east of the basketball team’s future arena received compliments and a unanimous vote for approval Monday from the Plan Commission.

“The architecture is beautiful,” said commission member Whitney Gould, who praised the design as transparent, gritty and paying homage to the city’s industrial heritage.

Said commission member Stephanie Bloomingdale, “I’m very, very impressed with the design. I’m excited to see how this is a place where Milwaukee comes together.”

The detailed design plans from Bucks affiliate Deer District LLC are conceptual and could change before the project is completed. The Common Council is to review the plans in January.

Deer District plans to begin construction this spring and complete the entertainment center and arena by fall 2018.

The entertainment center will feature three buildings, separated by two public walkways, totaling 104,000 square feet, east of N. 4th St. between W. Highland and W. Juneau avenues. It will replace a former city-owned parking structure that Deer District is demolishing.

The Bucks haven’t yet disclosed the names of restaurants, taverns and other businesses for the development.

But the conceptual plans show a possible craft brewery in the largest building. It would be on the site’s northern portion, with brewing equipment showcased behind large windows facing both N. 4th St. and W. Juneau Ave.

That building will have up to four stories. It will be next to a year-round beer garden within a covered pedestrian walkway in the middle of the development.

That walkway will run between the two larger buildings, from N. Old World 3rd St. to the outdoor plaza west of the enter-

tainment center. The plaza will replace one closed block of N. 4th St. and will connect the entertainment center to the future Bucks arena.

A shorter walkway, connecting N. 4th St. to W. Highland Ave., runs between the middle building and a smaller building on the site’s southern portion. Deer District’s plans show both of those buildings with two stories.

The design seeks to create an active area, both inside the entertainment center and outside on the plaza, throughout the year, said Matt Rinka, of Rinka Chung Architecture. The firm worked on the design with two other firms: Gensler and Office of James Burnett.

Rinka told commission members that the outdoor plaza is designed to be less of a grand statement and more like a place where people feel comfortable.

“This is a space for everybody,” Rinka said.

That point resonated with Bloomingdale. She mentioned her children, ages 17 and 14, would likely use the plaza as a place to meet their friends.

“They’re looking for a place to go,” she said.

Deer District is building the Bucks arena west of N. 4th St., just north of the BMO Harris Bradley Center. The $524 million project, including a new parking structure north of W. Juneau Ave. and east of N. 6th St., features $250 million in state, county and city funds.

The entertainment center is being privately financed.