With the Wisconsin Center (Milwaukee’s premiere convention location) directly across the street, the historic Commerce Building presented developers with the exciting opportunity to add extended-stay lodging accommodations to the neighborhood. The building at the corner of West Wells Street and North 4th Street is a 6-story structure and was adapted to a 155-guestroom Marriott Springhill Suites. Not only is the hotel strategically located to serve the conference facility, it is now on the south end of what will become Milwaukee’s new entertainment district due to the new Milwaukee Bucks arena and live block. Using State and Federal Historic Tax Credits, the sensitive renovation revitalizes the streetscape by restoring the storefront and adding active uses along what is now a pedestrian friendly experience.
The first floor of the hotel includes the lobby, lounge areas, the guest reception area and accommodations for a full-service restaurant. The upper floors include 25 to 35 guestrooms per floor intermixed with commercial office uses. The layout of each floor and creative design of guestrooms help maximize the efficiency of the building in what would normally be considered an atypical hotel footprint.
