Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Potawatomi Hotel & Casino

The $80 million expansion to Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin adds a new spa, additional meeting space, and 119 new rooms and suites to the building’s original, 19-story hotel tower. With 500 total rooms, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino is now the second largest hotel in the city.

Also designed by Cuningham, the existing 3½-star tower features 381 rooms, a casual-dining restaurant, a lobby bar/lounge and meeting space. The iconic 19-story tower stands out against the city’s skyline, integrating both traditional Milwaukee architecture and modern design. The hotel also reflects the area’s culture and geography and offers subtle nods to the storied history of the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe.

The materials and color of the hotel’s base pay homage to the industrial buildings located throughout Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley. To reflect the modern entertainment offered inside, the hotel tower rises from its masonry base clad in a combination of green-tinted transparent and opaque glass — an effect that mimics the look of Lake Michigan’s shimmery waves on a sunny day. The top floor features a “floating,” prow-like roofline which houses several suites. Additionally, a modern glass enclosed “flame” at the top of the hotel’s tower references the Forest County Potawatomi’s role as “Keepers of the Fire.”

Client: Forest County Potawatomi Community

Market: Entertainment, Hospitality

Size: 370,000 Square Feet

Scope: New Construction

Services: Architecture, Interior Design

Delivery Method: Construction Manager as Adviser

Key Project Contacts:

Ms potawatomi hotel 01
Potawatomi hotel rooms 02

Awards

18th Annual City of Milwaukee Mayor’s Design Award

ENR Midwest Best Projects of 2015 – Award of Merit

NEWH Las Vegas 11th Annual HOSPY Award – Best LEED CI Projec

The Daily Reporter (Wisconsin) Top Projects