Property Record
758 N BROADWAY
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Milwaukee Athletic Club |
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| Other Name: | Milwaukee Athletic Club |
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| Reference Number: | 113166 |
| Location (Address): | 758 N BROADWAY |
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| County: | Milwaukee |
| City: | Milwaukee |
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| Year Built: | 1917 |
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| Additions: | 1948 1954 1957 |
| Survey Date: | 198420112010 |
| Historic Use: | recreational building/gymnasium |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | Steel Frame |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Armand Koch (architect); Dahlman Construction Co (builder); Eschweiler and Eschweiler-architect |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Milwaukee Athletic Club |
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| National Register Listing Date: | 3/28/2019 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 11/30/2018 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| 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. A good example of a typical downtown hotel of this date in nearly original condition. 2010: This thirteen-story, Neoclassical-style building features a steel skeleton sheathed in brick and stone. It exemplifies the tripartite form of skyscraper design with its three stories of an ornamental stone veneer base, seven levels of a plain brick shaft and two stories of an ornamental stone veneer capital. The first two levels on the south and west facades are comprised of smooth piers that meet at a cornice-like band between the second and third floors. Both the piers and the cornice carry carved ornamentation and the cornice over the main entrance (west facade) projects outward to give a balcony railing appearance. While the third floor is sheathed with brick, a similar cornice-like band wraps between the third and fourth floors. The bays on the first level have been downsized to include modern stone panels and plate-glass windows. The shaft part of the tower is devoid of ornamentation and is pierced by regularly placed window openings either infilled with brick of replacement plate-glass/awning windows. The tower's capital portion at the top and bottom contain an elaborately decorated band with the space in between occupied by regularly placed windows and stone panels. The north facade consists of common brick and once was closely located to an adjacent, non-extant building. Home of the Milwaukee Athletic Club (MAC), this building was constructed in 1917 by the Dahlman Construction Company. It was designed by Armand Koch. The MAC traditionally was a low-profile organization that was founded in 1882. Its purpose was to promote physical fitness in a club-like setting. It was located in five downtown Milwaukee locations before constructing the subject building in 1917. The building was designed with seventy-three sleeping rooms for members and guest, as well as offices, dining rooms, a swimming pool and recreation areas. The club featured an exclusive clientele of Milwaukee's most prominent businessmen and professionals and, according the City of Milwaukee's Central Business Survey, was the location where many major business deals were made. The MAC continues to operate in the building. Resurveyed for Milwaukee Downtown Connector Arch/History Survey, SHPO#10-0983, Prepared by Heritage Research (2010). DOE completed by Heritage Research (2011). |
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| Bibliographic References: | Tax Program. Building permit. City of Milwaukee Central Business District Survey, Vol. 2 |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |