NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL RESTORATION PROJECT

Northwestern Mutual Restoration Project is located at 720 East Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Milwaukee, WI.  Hunzinger Construction was selected by Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company to complete a two phase exterior restoration of their South Office Building.  Phase 1 consisted of an exterior rehabilitation to a structure on the rooftop of the South Office Building. The existing Terra Cotta veneer was removed, new structural concrete beams were poured, a new brick backup wall was built, the structure was waterproofed and reroofed, and the exterior was rebuilt with Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete.

The Phase 1 work acted as a mock-up for the much larger portion of the exterior restoration project work that would take place in Phase 2.  The second phase work began with removing the damaged granite from the building’s exterior, restoring and then replacing those pieces. The building’s facade is made of Harwich white granite and was originally constructed in 1914.  Hunzinger’s team ensured that this potentially disruptive work was achieved in a manner sensitive to the occupied environment and to the historic significance of the building.  Inspec Inc. an independent engineering / architectural firm focusing on roofs, walls, windows, outdoor athletic facilities, pavements and waterproofing systems served as the project architect.