| Additional Information: | Architecture:
The Family Service of Milwaukee Building was built in 1962 and designed by Schutte, Phillips, and Mochon. It is a two-story office building with a rectangular plan and flat roof. Originally, there was a flat skylight at the center of the roof, however, it was replaced with three small skylights in 2014, then replaced again with one large gable-roofed skylight in 2023. The skylight is low pitched and not visible from the exterior of the building. The rear and side walls of the building are clad with light tan bricks laid in a common bond with every sixth row laid in headers. In these rows, every fourth header is raised, creating a geometric pattern. The brick side walls wrap around the front or main elevation where they meet window bands that create a glass wall effect. In between the first and second floor of the window bands are cast concrete spandrels with incised stylized figures that depict parents and children. The main entrance to the building sits at the center of the main elevation and consists of a set of large metal doors with tall, narrow, lights. A large floating awning covers the main entrance. There are some other openings on the second story of the side and rear walls. They are filled with single lights.
The interior features a central two-story atrium that is designed as a Japanese-style garden featuring a stone surface, concrete pads and a path, and large plants. Hallways around the atrium on both the first and second floors are enclosed with glass panels or walls except for a few areas that are open to provide access to offices, conference rooms, and staircases. There are both open staircases with metal railings and balustrades and enclosed staircases with concrete block walls and concrete floors. Walls in the interior spaces are made of unfinished concrete blocks and ceilings are unfinished concrete. Many of the office spaces feature front glass walls. Floors are primarily covered with carpeting but some areas, particularly by entry doors, there are concrete surfaces and there are also a few mosaic tile floor surfaces. Other finishes include metal interior doors, exposed metal beams, and a decorative panel in the main lobby that features an abstract triangle design.
History:
West Highland Boulevard was developed as an upper middle class area of fine homes. With the development of commercial uses along the street and the expansion of nearby Marquette University, the street changed to one of office buildings, apartment buildings, and student housing. This building was part of this redevelopment of West Highland Boulevard when it was built in 1962.
Family Service of Milwaukee was founded in 1882 as Associated Charities. In 1947, the name changed to Family Service of Milwaukee and the organization was located in three different places in the city. A need for larger and centralized quarters resulted in this new building. The agency hired Schutte, Phillips, and Mochon to design this building, which they did in a modern style. Family Service remained in this building until 1996 when they moved to a larger office building and sold the building to the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee. No alterations were made to the building until after 2018, when Genesis Behavioral Services purchased it. They replaced the skylights in 2023 and removed the acoustical tile ceilings in the building along with a curved front desk.
(Carol Cartwright, 2025) |
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