Doors Open spotlights Milwaukee buildings
In its eighth year, Doors Open Milwaukee has not lost its luster. Featuring 171 buildings throughout Milwaukee’s downtown and neighborhoods, there is not much left wanting from the event. It’s hard to choose where to start as each year offers more buildings to explore.
Doors Open is a concept that provides free access to buildings not normally open to the public. It helps promote architecture and historical buildings and a chance to discover hidden gems.
This year featured Northwestern Mutual, which allowed the public to see the lakefront from its highest floor. Other ways to view the city from on high, the U.S. Bank building’s observation deck will get one to the greatest height. Two-Fifty on Wisconsin Avenue is being renovated for new tenants, but offered a gorgeous view of Milwaukee and neighborhoods.
Within striking distance of the MATC downtown campus, there were three beer-related buildings including Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery, Brewhouse Inn and Suites, and the Milwaukee Brewing Company.
Some tours and buildings that were part of the event required a reservation and a small fee, but most were free. It seems every year Doors Open Milwaukee adds more buildings to see.

Visitors toured the old pharmacy vault, where controlled substances were locked up at the Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery.

Visitors were allowed to see the view from the 32nd floor of the Northwestern Mutual building.

The Pabst logo displayed at the Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery, which was built in 1858.

The War Memorial Center sits in front of the Northwestern Mutual Building at the US Bank Building.

The WE Energies building- Public Service Building is built with Italian marble wells and is 112 years old.

The Wells building atrium has the Wells signature, which can be read from entering or exiting the building.

This is the view of the Milwaukee Art Musem and Discovery World from the War Memorial Center deck.

The Eternal Flame burns continually for those killed in war at the War Memorial Center.

The view down Wisconsin Avenue from the 7th floor of the Wells building.

Visitors look at panormaic views of Milwaukee from the 20th floor of Two- Fifty on Wisconsin Avenue.

This building, first operated as Pabst Brewery’s brewhouse in 1882, now houses the Brewhouse Inn and Suites since April 2013.

My name is Kirsten Schmitt. I joined the MATC Times because I was on my high school paper and really enjoyed the experience. I wanted to enhance my experience...