When it comes to meetings and conventions, Milwaukee means business. In 2024 alone, Visit Milwaukee brought in 364 events throughout the city, including national political events such as the 2024 Republican National Convention, major industry tradeshows like 2024 Connect Marketplace and sporting events like the 2024 Women’s College Volleyball Showcase. The packed calendar of meetings, conventions and events drew nearly half a million attendees to our city, accounting for a total economic impact of $374.5 million and $19.7 million in state and local taxes.
At the heart of the city’s meetings and conventions industry is the city’s convention center, Baird Center. Coming off a $456 million expansion and modernization project that more than doubled Baird Center’s footprint to 1.3 million square feet, including a 300,000 square foot exhibit hall, sweeping cityscape views from the Baird Sky View Terrace and incorporated sustainable design choices at every turn, paving the way for the next generation of convention centers.
On February 24, the Wisconsin Center District announced that the expansion officially earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This prestigious recognition is only awarded to projects that have gone above and beyond to ensure the highest level of sustainability, placing Baird Center among a select crowd of convention centers leading the way to a greener tomorrow. In fact, Baird Center is now one of just 15 LEED Gold or Platinum-certified convention centers in the country.
From the outset, the team at the Wisconsin Center District prioritized sustainability, equity and innovation in the design of the expansion. Using recycled materials in its construction and incorporating state-of-the-art green building features, Baird Center raised the bar for sustainable practices within the meetings, conventions and events industry. From bird-friendly glass to a top-of-the-line ORCA food digester, here are just some of the green highlights that have taken the convention center to new heights.
Baird Center’s Key Sustainability Features
• The solar roof avoids the consumption of 98,130 kilowatt-hours.
• Stormwater detention system, a 320,000-gallon system helps prevent flooding.
• Bird-friendly glass reduces bird collisions and supports biodiversity.
• ORCA food digester can divert 438 tons of food waste per year from landfills.
• Recycled steel: 90% of the total 6,000 tons of steel used in construction was recycled.
• Reclaimed urban wood repurposes wood that would otherwise be sent to landfills.
But this is just the beginning. With the opening of the long-awaited expansion, the convention center can now host even larger events, opening the door to groups that previously hadn’t considered Milwaukee as a destination. In 2024, Visit Milwaukee booked 396 events for 2025 and beyond. The majority of these events will take place at Baird Center and include everything from AdeptiCon in 2026 to ASAE’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in 2034, drawing over 600,000 attendees to Milwaukee in the coming years.
You can learn more about Baird Center’s green features, take a virtual tour of the state’s largest convention center and plan your next Milwaukee meeting or convention today!
