Milwaukee Center Building, Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Center Building-now known as the Associated Bank River Center-is a 28-story, 426-foot-tall postmodern high-rise that has been standing tall over downtown Milwaukee since 1988. Originally constructed during a local building boom that also produced 100 East Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Center briefly held the title of the city's second-tallest building until it was overtaken by its rival down the street.

A nod to Milwaukee’s architectural heritage, the building's red brick façade, pointed tower, and green accents are a clear homage to the iconic Milwaukee City Hall. While its primary role is as an office tower, it also includes parking facilities and forms part of a greater cultural complex.

Its story is tied to the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, which sold the land surrounding the old Wisconsin Electric Powerhouse-an industrial relic that became The Rep’s Quadracci Powerhouse performance venue. The Milwaukee Center rose beside it, with a rotunda that physically and symbolically links the tower to both the Saint Kate Arts Hotel and the historic Pabst Theater, creating a dynamic fusion of business and culture.

In March 2016, Associated Bank acquired the building and gave it a new identity in 2019, renaming it the Associated Bank River Center, anchoring the site as both a financial and cultural hub on the Milwaukee River.