The skyline of this Great Lakes city is getting a makeover, led by a tower that unfurls like a magnificent curved glass sail on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Northwestern Mutual’s striking $450 million, 32-story glass-and-steel office tower, which opened in August, is helping to reshape the city. It will be followed by the Milwaukee Bucks’ $524 million arena, financed with $250 million in taxpayer funds, which is set to open next year.
Encouraged by reports of job creation and companies announcing plans to move back downtown, developers here have introduced plans for half a dozen new office towers in the Loop central business district.
Most companies have shelved expansion plans until the economy recovers but not the Devon Energy Corporation, one of the country's biggest independent energy companies.