Depending on which news sources you follow, Milwaukee is going through either a “renaissance” or a “reinvention.” However you want to define it, it’s safe to say that Milwaukee is currently building a lot of new and wonderful things! Here are some of them, brought to you by GTG Home Buyers!
• On Saturday, October 11, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for its revamped Associated Bank Theater Center. According to a press release, the 152,500-square-foot facility at 108 E. Wells St. “encompasses the completely gutted and reimagined historic former powerplant that has been home to the theater since 1987. A newly constructed glass building connects all theaters in the complex to the shared multi-level lobby for the first time.”
The complex will include three venues: the Ellen & Joe Checota Powerhouse Theater (pictured below), the Herro-Franke Studio Theater (scheduled to be completed in February 2026), and the Stackner Cabaret.
Photo: Peter McCullough
Want to see more? Milwaukee Rep has released a handful of photos of its new Theater Center, which you can check out below. (All photos by Peter McCullough.) Oh, and the ribbon cutting ceremony will be followed by an opening night concert from Bernadette Peters! Fun!
• It’s been our nearly decade-long mission to remind you that the Milwaukee Public Museum as you know it will soon disappear forever. The new Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin is scheduled to replace MPM in early 2027. As we speak, MPM is in the process of packing up millions upon millions of artifacts and objects.
But which exhibits and exhibit items will make the big move? Like, what’s going to happen to that igloo? Or the mannequins in the European Village? MPM hasn’t released a comprehensive list or anything, but we did spot some new “Meet me at the new Museum” signage on a recent visit. (Another reminder that the new museum will have a “spiritual successor” to the Streets of Old Milwaukee called Milwaukee Revealed.)
Offsite links to more new and wonderful things…
• “Aldermen press DCD to reopen bidding for Marcus Performing Arts Center parking structure site, but delay vote” [BizTimes]
• “A Riverwest condo co-housing project plans 2026 construction start” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• “The Reserve will bring high-end VIP dining to Fiserv Forum this Bucks season” [OnMilwaukee]
• “AmFam Field winterization plans, community beer garden are advancing” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• “UWM Panther Arena possible demolition might see historic status hurdle” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• “East side apartment tower still on hold. Temporary parking use sought” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
• “Lake Park Friends funds sculptor’s replacement eagles for Wolcott Monument” [OnMilwaukee]
• “ICE Seeks Downtown Milwaukee Office To Go With New Field Facility” [Urban Milwaukee]
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