Pier review

Discovery World earns its support

By Calie Johnson

The Discovery World museum at Pier Wisconsin arrived on Milwaukee's lakefront on the heels of some heated debate.

Objections to the overall project ranged from worries over the original design to concerns with obstructing views of Lake Michigan. Those critics could be thanked for the creation of Discovery World.

The original project design for Pier Wisconsin didn't include plans for things like the children's learning center. Rather, it simply accommodated the Lake Schooner Education Association, said Michael Cudahy, the co-chairman of the Discovery World board of directors.

"But this design was controversial because people felt it had too close a resemblance to the Calatrava," he said.

The proposed building, with its similarities to the neighboring Milwaukee Art Museum, was dropped and an architectural competition was developed to devise a new plan for the project, which would include the addition of Discovery World.

"Six or seven companies entered the competition," Cudahy said.

HGA Architects and Engineers Inc. got the job, but the project didn't yet have approval.

"The previous designer had been unable to get approval, so it was an angry hornet's nest when we came in," said Jim Shields, HGA's project designer.

	Project Name: Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin Location: Milwaukee Submitting Companies: Gilbane Building Company, Milwaukee; HGA Architects and Engineers Inc., Milwaukee Construction Manager: Gilbane Building Company Project Leaders: Rob Docter, HGA's project architect; Russ Drewry, HGA's project manager; Jim Shields, HGA's designer; Lora Strigens Wiegman, HGA's project manager; Jim Vander Heiden, HGA's principal; Paula Verboomen, HGA's project architect; Andy Wiegman, Gilbane's senior project manager Architect: HGA Architects and Engineers Inc. Engineers: Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer and Associates Inc., Milwaukee, civil, landscape engineer; HGA Architects and Engineers Inc., plumbing, fire protection, HVAC, electrical engineer Owners: Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin, Milwaukee; The Endeavors Group LLC, Milwaukee Project Cost: $42.7 million Project Size: 120,000 square feet Start Date: August 2004 Completion Date: August 2006

Shields attended numerous city meetings to garner backing for the new plan, and, eventually, the worries of a concerned community turned to support for Pier Wisconsin and its Discovery World.

"The community interest enabled the scope to broaden and for the enlargement of exhibits, creating a more exciting building," said Andy Wiegman, senior project manager for construction manager Gilbane Building Company. "We had to keep pace with the expanding exhibits."

Obstacles such as 6-foot tides made it difficult to work around the lake's varying water levels, but because the building is built 75 percent over the water, the team anticipated such construction challenges and overcame them to complete the job.

The finished Discovery World building houses a youth-oriented science and technology museum and is the docking point for the Denis Sullivan, a replica of an 1880s schooner that serves as a teaching vessel.

Unique to this museum is the Aquatarium, which includes a theater, classrooms, learning labs, and freshwater and saltwater aquariums.

The project also includes an innovative cooling system that uses the lake to cool the building. A green roof over the parking structure provides shade for cars and play space for kids and adults.

And at least some of the credit for the ultimate success of the project goes back to the people who voiced their concerns in the beginning so they could enjoy Discovery World in the end.

"Being able to see the end user - the community - enjoying it was personally rewarding," Wiegman said.