The Milwaukee Art Museum’s Quadracci Pavilion was named the 2003 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement award winner by the American Society of Civil Engineers at an award ceremony on May 1.
The Pavilion, which was chosen from six project finalists from across the United States, was honored because of its unique architectural elements. Some of its design includes soaring, free-form concrete arches; a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge that features a single, 48-degree angle mast; a 90-foot cantilevered arch that supports a giant glass and steel hall; and a concrete canopy that swoops out from the building.
The project’s structural and civil engineers. Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer & Associates, Milwaukee, Wis., along with architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava, Zurich, Switzerland, wanted to bring the building to life.
One of the most notable features of the structure is the Brise-Soleil, a movable sunscreen on top of the museum’s vaulted glass-enclosed reception hall. The 110-ton sunscreen can be raised and lowered to control heat and light.
“The grandeur of the Quadracci Pavilion is an exquisite extension of the art collection it houses,” ASCE President Thomas L. Jackson said. “Creativity and innovation are vital parts of every engineering solution, and the Quaracci Pavilion will no doubt serve as a symbol for the city of Milwaukee for years to come.”
