The Milwaukee Plan Commission recently unanimously approved an million, 19-story, 119-room hotel addition at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, owned and operated by the Forest County Potawatomi. Construction will begin later this year and be completed in spring 2019. The tribe currently operates a 381-room hotel, which opened in August 2014. The 180,000 square foot addition also will offer a spa plus meeting and event space. Tribal officials said the project will add 50 new jobs to its current 2,700 positions.
Zimmerman Architectural Studios President and Chief Executive Officer David Stroik told commissioners the L-shaped base of the first tower has been development-ready since that hotel opened. He said the Potawatomi “just need more rooms, specifically they need more suites.” In the future the tribe could reconfigure the two towers to hold up to 580 rooms without seeking another zoning change. Stroik said, “That’s why you see a range from 119 to 179 in the room count.”
The 4-story addition will connect the base of the hotel to the casino, which currently is served only by a walkway. It also will add event space plus more room for “back of the house” functions.
Zimmerman will be the local architect of record and Minneapolis-based Cunningham Group will provide the building’s design. Construction will be led by Potawatomi’s Greenfire Management Services.
