The Fortress Apartments & Office Space

The Fortress Building is one of Milwaukee’s most recognizable buildings with its distinct red brick, unique architectural flourishes, and a medieval-looking tower facing Pleasant Street. It is made up of six connected structures that cover an entire city block. The additions were built between 1892 and 1912 by the original tenant F. Mayer Boot & Shoe Co., one of the largest tanning producers in the world at the time. The tanning producer stayed in the building until the 1930’s leaving the building to be called home by musicians, filmmakers, artists, galleries, theater companies, an art supply shop, a daycare, and a Montessori school. After renovations in 2018,  The Fortress has become a new home for Milwaukee residents seeking apartments, as well as JP Cullen’s new Milwaukee office.

Once renovations were complete, the Milwaukee Fortress Building featured 25,000 sqft of commercial lease space on the first two floors and 132 market-rate, loft-style residential apartments on the remaining floors.  Apartments are imbued with historic features, including exposed brick walls, heavy timber ceilings, and expansive windows that provide residents with excellent views of the downtown Milwaukee skyline. Communal tenant amenities include a rooftop terrace furnished with outdoor couches and tables, a courtyard that lights up once the sun goes down with an outdoor kitchenette and grill, a fitness facility including virtual yoga classes, a club room with theater viewing, a Do-It-Yourself space, dog run, and dog washing station.