Photos courtesy of raSmith.
The Trade Milwaukee, a 207-room, nine-story hotel, stands as a key feature in the historic downtown Milwaukee “Deer District” surrounding Fiserv Forum, home to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Designed to accommodate high-profile guests, including NBA players, the hotel features a rooftop restaurant and lounge overlooking the city, a two-story VIP suite and rooms with extended ceiling heights.
Luxury Meets Load-Bearing: A Structural Balancing Act
The Trade Milwaukee’s structure consists of post-tensioned concrete slabs supported by concrete columns and shear walls. Its exterior walls are cold-formed steel (CFS) studs backing up brick and metal panels. Supplemental structural steel framing was provided to support the brick loads. The structural design has handled by Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) member raSmith.
At levels 1 and 2, extensive storefront punched openings required careful coordination, with stud sizes strategically designed to fit between openings while allowing access for connections to the main structure. The 20-foot floor-to-floor height at each level, combined with a deflection that was limited to L/600 due to the brick veneer, added complexity. The monumental stair presented another challenge, as no level 2 slab was provided. In this case, no CFS studs were adequate for the space provided, so HSS framing was incorporated into the CFS wall framing.
The Trade Milwaukee exterior walls feature cold-formed steel (CFS) studs backing up brick and metal panels.
SFIA member raSmith designed an elaborate framing system with multiple jambs and headers interconnecting at various levels, creating a web of load-bearing components.
Custom Windows, Creative Framing
The window system was one of the most complex aspects of The Trade Milwaukee’s engineering. Unlike conventional curtain wall systems, where a single prefabricated unit fits into a rectangular opening, each window in The Trade was an individual unit. This required an elaborate framing system with multiple jambs and headers interconnecting at various levels, creating a web of load-bearing components. No two openings were identical, making the coordination process time-intensive and highly detailed.
The penthouse-level bar and lounge posed another challenge. Designed with large 18-foot-wide exterior openings, the screen walls needed to withstand wind loads, whether left open or enclosed by future glazing. To meet structural requirements, the jamb stud depth was increased to 8 inches in some locations.
The two-story VIP suite featured a set of stacked openings, but only one jamb had mid-height support. The opposite jamb had to span two full stories of open atrium space, creating a significant design challenge. Throughout the project, up to eight rounds of revisions were necessary to accommodate the changing design needs. One key revision involved modifying the existing stud framing to support brick veneer that had been added late in the design phase.
The two-story VIP suite featured a set of stacked openings, but only one jamb had mid-height support.
The Trade Milwaukee’s rooftop restaurant balanced complex architectural details with structural integrity.
Another standout feature is the rooftop restaurant, where complex architectural details required solutions that balanced aesthetics with structural integrity. Given the lack of substantial structural attachment points, raSmith had to devise creative framing solutions to achieve the desired profiles.
The Trade Milwaukee required complex coordination and problem-solving to address structural demands. It is a standout addition to the Deer District and a reflection of raSmith’s expertise in tackling complex structural challenges.
The Trade Milwaukee is a standout addition to the Deer District in Milwaukee.
The design required raSmith’s expertise in tackling complex structural challenges.
R.A. Smith, Inc.
raSmith has a niche expertise in cold-formed steel (CFS) engineering. The team provides services to architects, builders and general contractors on projects nationwide. raSmith has one of the largest cold-formed steel engineering groups in the United States.
Its CFS structural engineering applications include residential, sports, retail, educational, health care, mixed-use, corporate, industrial, senior living and hospitality facilities.
The firm’s cold-formed designers and technicians are highly responsive and detail-oriented.The speed and quality of project turnaround stem from gathering key information early and preparing complete, easy-to-read drawings before work begins.
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- Video: Efficient Use of CFS for 1122 W. Chicago Avenue Wins SFIA Award for R.A. Smith
- R.A. Smith Wins CFSEI Design Award for CFS-Framed Starbucks in Staten Island