The Midwest Airlines Center

The Midwest Airlines Center is one of the world's most architecturally exhilarating and technologically interesting convention centers. Opened in 1998, the Midwest Airlines Center is one of the nations few convention centers that people seem to visit simply to admire. The convention center is located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee and is part of a greater complex of buildings which includes the U.S. Cellular Arena and the Milwaukee Theatre. Among the Midwest Airlines Center's greatest features is 188,695 square feet of contiguous exhibit space and an awesome 37,506 square foot ballroom.

The Midwest Airlines Center is renowned for both sensory delight and astonishing efficiency. It is run with strict attention to customer service. It is also home to the $1.2 million John J. Burke Family Collection of commissioned and integrated works of art, and some of the most advanced and IT infrastructure anywhere. With equal ease, it handles the intense realities of tradeshow setup and offers exquisite elegance for formal banquets and functions.

Naming rights for the Midwest Airlines Center were sold to Midwest Airlines, which calls Milwaukee is home. Skywalks connect the convention center to the nearby Hilton and Hyatt hotels.

On the fourth street side of the Midwest Airlines Center is an outdoor reliquary garden titled "City Yard." Created by artist Sheila Klein, it contains many iconic items from Milwaukee's Department of Public Works such as fire hydrants and the classic blue police call box. Within this area are planters containing ginkgo trees and a large monument with four limestone lion heads set in relief. These architectural elements were salvaged from the AT&T building that once stood in a nearby location.

The Midwest Airlines Center certainly displays its artistic personality both indoors and out, but perhaps the most daring concept of all is a series of 23 portals designed by sculptor Jill Sebastian. The portals, faced with wood, emulate the undulating hills of southeastern Wisconsin in their rhythmically reiterated arcs. They soften the otherwise austere sweep of the upper and lower hallways and introduce outsiders to the state's gently eroded landforms.

Presently the Midwest Airlines Center draws thousands of visitors to the Milwaukee area every year. Whether you go to the Midwest Airlines Center for work or play, as a convention attendee or as an exhibitor, you can be assured of having a wonderful experience.

Midwest Airlines Center
400 West Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53203