September 23, 2025

Construction Halted for Milwaukee’s 31-Story Timber Skyscraper

here-intlog
September 23, 2025
6:35 am
Milwaukee

News Summary

The construction of ‘The Edison,’ a planned 31-story mass timber skyscraper in Milwaukee, faces a temporary halt due to rising costs from inflation and tariffs. Developers announced the pause while emphasizing the need for value-engineering to ensure project success. Once completed, The Edison will house over 350 high-end residential units and commercial retail space, aiming to be the tallest mass timber building in North America. Designers have included various sustainable features, but stakeholders face challenges due to the current economic climate.

Milwaukee – Construction of the planned 31-story mass timber skyscraper, “The Edison,” has been temporarily halted due to recent tariffs and broader inflation that have increased hard costs. Developers, Neutral, announced the construction pause on September 18, 2025.

The Edison aims to deliver over 350 high-end residential units along with commercial retail space. Once completed, it is expected to become the tallest mass timber building in North America, surpassing the current record holder, Ascent, a 25-story timber high-rise built in 2022.

After groundbreaking took place in the spring of 2025, the foundation of The Edison was successfully completed. The total estimated cost for the project is $133 million, funded through a loan sourced from Bank OZK and Pearlmark. Following the pause, Neutral’s CEO emphasized the necessity of value-engineering the project to ensure its long-term success.

A dispute has arisen between Neutral and the general contractor, C.D. Smith, regarding the reasons for the construction halt; however, the contractor has not made any public comments on the matter. Despite this pause, Neutral has stated plans to keep the construction site intact and protect the completed works while the project is on hold.

Design and Amenities

The Edison has been designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, with structural support from Forefront Structural Engineers and engineering assistance from Thornton Tomasetti. Planned amenities for the building include a community movie room, fitness center, coworking space, sauna, and outdoor areas featuring a small pool. Additionally, commercial tenants will include an organic grocery store and café to be managed by Copa Vida, a company based in Los Angeles.

Sustainability Initiatives

The design of The Edison focuses on environmentally-friendly features and aims for various sustainability certifications, including Living Building Challenge 4.0 Core Certification and Passive House certification. Mass timber, a key construction material for the project, is engineered to offer greater strength, aesthetic appeal, and environmental advantages compared to traditional building materials. The carbon footprint associated with the construction materials is estimated to be 54% lower than that of conventional structures, while the operational carbon footprint and energy consumption are projected to be 45% lower.

Project Background

The project was initiated by Neutral in 2020 after identifying the 0.56-acre site, which was purchased for $4.12 million. Site preparation followed the demolition of a warehouse that formerly occupied the location in 2024. Although The Edison may hold the title of the tallest mass timber building in North America, a taller structure currently under construction in Sydney, Australia may eventually surpass it, which could position The Edison as the tallest in the Western Hemisphere.

The decision to halt construction underscores the challenges facing the construction industry, particularly as economic factors such as inflation and tariffs continue to create obstacles for developers. Stakeholders involved in the project remain hopeful that, with re-evaluated strategies and careful management, The Edison can still achieve its vision of transforming the Milwaukee skyline into a modern, sustainable landmark.