Breaking Ground in Milwaukee: Edison Moves Forward

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Rendering by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture

Last week, we had the opportunity to take part in the groundbreaking ceremony for The Edison, a project that has been years in the making and one we’re incredibly proud to be working on. Standing on site in Milwaukee, surrounded by collaborators, partners, and the broader project team, it was a meaningful moment to pause and recognize what this project represents, and what’s ahead.

The Edison is set to become the tallest mass timber tower in the Western Hemisphere, and reaching this milestone marks the transition from vision and planning into active construction. For us at Forefront Structural Engineers, it is especially rewarding to see a project move into the ground after extensive early coordination, testing, and ongoing conversation around how mass timber can perform safely and responsibly at this scale. Moments like this reflect the value of careful planning and technical rigor, particularly when working with innovative structural systems.

We have been fortunate to collaborate closely with Neutral Architects on The Edison from the earliest stages of design. Their approach is thoughtful, ambitious, and grounded in performance, and it has shaped the project in fundamental ways. As structural engineers, this kind of partnership is essential, especially on a building that pushes boundaries and invites new questions around materials, fire performance, constructability, and long term durability. Working side by side has allowed the team to align structural strategy with architectural intent, creating a project that is both expressive and grounded in real world performance.

The groundbreaking also felt like a culmination of broader efforts across the industry. From the recent three-hour mass timber fire testing to ongoing dialogue with authorities having jurisdiction, The Edison reflects how research, testing, and collaboration can translate into real, buildable projects. Seeing shovels in the ground is a reminder that this work matters in practice as much as it does in theory.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped bring The Edison to this point: the development team, builders, consultants, city partners, and all those willing to engage in the detailed work required to make a project like this possible. As construction begins, we’re excited to continue supporting the project through its next phases and to share more as Edison rises in Milwaukee’s skyline.

This groundbreaking marks the start of a new chapter for The Edison and for what mass timber can achieve at scale, and we are proud to be part of it.

You can find the full groundbreaking ceremony on youtube below: