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Project Details
Architect: Kahler Slater
Architects
Award: National AIA Award for Regional and Urban
Design 1993
Implementation Status: Completed with master plan
adopted by the City resulting in full implementation.
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Background
This project began in earnest when a representative from a local
lighting fixture supply firm felt he could no longer remain quiet
and watch Milwaukee lay in darkness as other cities around the
country were aglow. The concern was shared with a supervisor at
Wisconsin Electric Power Company (now WE Energies) and David
Kahler, then president of Kahler Slater Architects, Inc. It
happened that this complaint reached the Greater Milwaukee
Committee (GMC), an influential organization of business leaders of
which David Kahler was a member, at a time when the GMC was working
to improve the city’s image, enhance economic development
potential, and increase tourism and convention business. After some
thought, and with David Kahler explaining how illuminating the
city’s landmarks would “help you orient yourself even
before you arrive, and make the city much more intelligible to
visitors and even local residents,” the Landmark Lighting
Subcommittee was established in the summer of 1987. This committee
set out with the task of illuminating the buildings, streets,
walkways, parks, landmarks, statues and other highlights throughout
the Central Business District of Milwaukee.
Implementation Status
After an exhaustive design analysis, the Kahler Slater-developed
master plan was commissioned. The phased plan identified a series
of clusters within the Central Business District that would be
illuminated over time. The $12.7 million price tag was divided into
six financing options that would allow businesses and individuals
in any given district to pool together resources and adopt the cost
of lighting their own neighborhood. In the end, several entities
were able to adopt the $30,000-$60,000 cost of lighting some
significant areas. The first phase of the master plan was completed
by August of 1990. Phase One included the illumination of Milwaukee
City Hall, Milwaukee County Courthouse, Wisconsin Avenue Bridge,
Wisconsin Electric Power Company headquarters building, St.
John’s Cathedral, the central library, and Court of Honor. By
November of 1991, 80% of the Landmark Lighting Plan was complete,
and by 1993 the full master plan was implemented. However, the
master plan didn’t stop there. The plan carried such clout
that it went on to influence the lighting of the dramatic 6th
Street Viaduct Bridge, the Calatrava addition to the Milwaukee Art
Museum, and the redevelopment of Marquette University’s
campus.
Public Process
Using more than 2,500 images of existing day and night
conditions for the Central Business District, working mock-ups,
design analysis, and with the help of Washington, D.C. lighting
consultant Claude Engle and members of the Illuminating Engineering
Society of Milwaukee, Kahler Slater developed a master plan to
illuminate 32 official and unofficial landmark buildings, seven
downtown bridges crossing the Milwaukee River, a number of parks,
and most sidewalks and traffic intersections. The information
generated by the six months of research and analysis was presented
to building owners and public representatives in a series of town
meetings. The nine month planning process involved more than 100
individuals from the public, private, and non-for profit sectors,
generating much excitement and giving everyone involved an even
greater sense of pride.
Community Impact
The implementation of the Landmark Lighting Plan has succeeded
in highlighting the unique character of Milwaukee and its
architecture. It showcases both the traditional expressions and the
modern developments that, as a whole, make up Milwaukee’s
landscape as we know it today. The lighting plan helps link
otherwise disparate downtown neighborhoods and districts into a
cohesive whole that has become safer and more pedestrian friendly.
The quality and beauty of the light encourages leisurely strolls
after dark from event to event, increasing the foot traffic for
local businesses as well as creating a sense of pride for the
community. Since the full implementation of the lighting plan,
housing development in the downtown area has grown at a dramatic
pace, burglaries and robberies are down, and nighttime activities
throughout the city have increased. While the landmark lighting
project cannot be heralded as the sole reason that downtown
Milwaukee is now seen as a destination city after-dark, it’s
clear that without the implementation of the lighting plan, the
city’s other efforts would not have been nearly as
successful.
Lessons Learned
The Landmark Lighting Master Plan was instrumental in making
Milwaukee an even better place to live and work. Knowing the
potential impact and price tag, public opinion was held in high
regard. Thanks to due dilligence by the design team, the public was
on board with the plan from inception. The idea was so well
received, in fact, that building owners and community
representatives were contacting the team for advice on how they
might light their own buildings and landmarks in keeping with the
master plan. The key to the success of the master plan was the
involvement of the community-at-large early on in the process.
Conducting the “town-hall” style meetings allowed the
community to be part of the planning and design process, and take
ownership for the illumination of their city.
Principles for Livable Communities
The Landmark Lighting Project created lighting levels that were
easy on the evening walker as well as encouraging pedestrian
traffic throughout the Central Business District. This increase in
pedestrian traffic allowed many area shops and restaurants to
flourish in the evening hours and helped generate a positive
“buzz” after dark in downtown Milwaukee, thus helping to
revitalize the area. Increasing the light level on walkways,
through parks, and around landmarks allowed people to feel safe
when strolling around town in the evening. The lighting created a
wonderful walking experience throughout the city as well, changing
people’s perceptions of Milwaukee. The city was no longer a
dark and potentially dangerous place. After implementation, it
became a glowing, vibrant cityscape full of activity. In addition,
illuminating these community landmarks gave local residents a sense
of pride for their city, and communities could identify with
“their” landmark when it was beautifully aglow. The
master plan was a carefully thought out and well designed project
that reinvigorated downtown Milwaukee, highlighted its landmarks,
and activated its public spaces after dark. Many factors played a
role in the success of the Landmark Lighting Project, but without a
well designed plan the project would never have proceeded at
all.
Overall Sustainable Contribution
Without the landmark lighting, Milwaukee would still be
suffering from concerns related to after-dark activity. Without the
thoughtful illumination of buildings, landmarks, and streets and
walkways, it’s likely the city would not have developed in
such a vibrant way. Nighttime activity has flourished since the
implementation and Milwaukee has become one of the best cities to
live in for young professionals. The lighting plan has put
Milwaukee “on-stage,” reviving the community for both
visitors and residents. In a time when the city was trying to find
a way to better its image, the Landmark Lighting Plan was able to
enhance the rich character of the city, bring people back downtown
and generate life after dark.
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