Property Record
819 N 6TH ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | State Office Building |
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| Other Name: | Wisconsin District State Office Building |
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| Reference Number: | 111444 |
| Location (Address): | 819 N 6TH ST |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
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| Year Built: | 1961 |
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| Additions: | 1963 |
| Survey Date: | 19842016 |
| Historic Use: | large office building |
| Architectural Style: | Contemporary |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Concrete |
| Architect: | Marjorie Kreilick-murals; Grellinger, Rose, Jurener, Klumb, Rappl, Hass, Inc. |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. 2016- "The 10-story State Office Building was constructed in 1961 and has an L-shaped plan and flat roof. The walls are concrete and the primary (north) facade features a bank of plate-glass and metal windows on the first story and a one-story entrance wing extends from the northwest corner. The entrance wing roof features three barrel vaults at the ell and a flat roof extends north. The entrance is located at the junction of the entrance wing and the main block and features arched concrete awnings over three pairs of glass and metal doors. On the side (east and west) elevations, the building is cantilevered above the second story and supported by four round concrete columns. The side elevations, devoid of windows, are clad in brick in vertical bands. On the rear (south) elevation a series of arched concrete awnings span the length of the building over metal fixed pane and awning windows and concrete knee walls. The upper floors of the primary (north) facade and rear elevation feature metal fixed and awning windows with concrete hoods that form a geometric pattern." -"USH 18/Wells St: N 6th St to N Broadway", WisDOT#2200-14-00, Prepared by Mead & Hunt, Inc., (2016). Building features 10 marble mosaic murals. "An interesting feature of this recent addition of the Civic Center Complex is the Wells Street sunshade facade. The window surrounds not only create changing patterns of light and shadow but also keep excessive light and heat from the interior, reducing the cost of air conditioning and eliminating the need for blinds. Inside, subtly colored, semi-abstract mosaic murals picture distinctive aspects of the Wisconsin landscape. They were executed in Italy by Marjorie Kreilick of The University of Wisconsin Art Department and were shipped to Milwaukee intact." Pagel, Mary Ellen & Virginia A Palmer, University Extension The University of Wisconsin, Guides to Historic Milwaukee: Kilbourntown Walking Tour, 1967. History: The State Office Building in Milwaukee was constructed in 1961 and the mosaic artwork added in 1963. The building’s purpose was to consolidate Milwaukee-based state offices into one location. Wisconsin’s State Architect at the time was a proponent of adding artistic value to public buildings and proposed that Marjorie Kreilick be hired to add mosaics murals to the new state office building. Kreilick’s 10 murals were installed, one on each floor of the building. In 2018, state government proposed replacing this building with a new one in a different location. The project has been on hold due to funding issues, but the state wants to sell the current building and historic preservation advocates have raised the issue of the preservation of the mosaics in this building. Additional Comments, 2023: |
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| Bibliographic References: | https://sca-roadside.org/common-ground-landscape-mosaics-at-the-wisconsin-state-office-building-in-milwaukee/?fbclid=IwAR1efdjjOOgn6YIcwIhEEKoPVMp-nhc5gb8YAE7f44dd4WTlYDYg2aCY8lA Pagel, Mary Ellen & Virginia A Palmer, University Extension The University of Wisconsin, Guides to Historic Milwaukee: Kilbourntown Walking Tour, 1967. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |