408 West Florida Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
We stopped by the former Hellenbrand Glass project site in Milwaukee, WI yesterday. Looking at the building now, you would never know it was a windowless construction site just a year ago. A Brew City Yoga class was in session in a first floor studio and residents were regularly coming and going. Lost Valley Cider Co., the first hard cider bar in Milwaukee, is one of several businesses opening in its retail space. This vibrant building has been completely transformed by its restoration into a shining example of urban renewal in Milwaukee.
The site is now home to Brix Apartment Lofts, an upscale rental community appealing to young professionals and others who are seeking an authentic urban environment. Now that the cold winter months have arrived, Brix residents are no doubt enjoying the warmth and beauty of their historic and functional windows, which overlook the Milwaukee River and the heart of downtown.
Preservation of this building’s storied history as a candy factory and a gem of Walker’s Point industrial district would have been incomplete if its windows had not been painstakingly restored. As you can see, they are a prominent architectural feature of the building. Inappropriate replacements would have fundamentally altered its character and curb appeal. Hellenbrand Glass’s meticulous window restoration and installation is a credit to their ongoing role in helping preserve historic buildings throughout Wisconsin. Read more about how Hellenbrand Glass used Abatron products including LiquidWood and WoodEpox on the Brix Apartment Lofts window restoration on our blog and see other examples of Hellenbrand’s work in their portfolio.
As construction projects proliferate nearby, we hope the Milwaukee downtown revitalization will continue to flourish and the success of the 408 W. Florida Street project will inspire other developers to preserve Milwaukee’s historic character.
Thank you again to Hellenbrand Glass for inviting us to your project site last year. The restoration turned out beautifully. Job well done.
