Baird Center Expansion Structural Steel

Scheduled for its grand opening in May 2024, the Baird Center (formerly known as the Wisconsin Center) will unveil its new expansive look, doubling its convention space to more than 1.3 million sqft. The revamped venue will have the capability to host multiple events concurrently accommodating events of all sizes.

The $456 million expansion project will bring various enhancements including the expansion of the exposition hall to 300,000 sqft, the addition of 24 new meeting rooms, 400 indoor parking spaces, 6 new loading docks, an executive kitchen, and a fourth-floor ballroom with space for a minimum of 2,000 seated dinner.

JP Cullen, in partnership with CD Smith, erected the structural steel for this project. Our teams erected 169 large trusses and placed a 114,000 lbs. skybridge in place as one piece.

JP Cullen also erected three boards on site along with their support steel. The first, on the southeast corner of the job overlooks the corner of Wisconsin Ave and Vel R Phillips. At 650 square feet this board will provide the Baird Center with a large continuous space to advertise their events. On the northeast corner, overlooking the main entrance to the building we erected a large videoboard at just under 1000 square feet. This board has a unique 99-degree kink in the middle that will allow displays to wrap around the façade of the building. A third smaller interior videoboard will welcome guests as they enter the building. Thanks to the efficiency, skill, and hard work of the crew all three boards were completed in just under 6 weeks.