The future home of the Bucks is taking shape in downtown Milwaukee. Crews say the arena project is already 15 percent complete.
Construction has come a long way since the first steel beams were set three months ago. The structural steel is more than halfway done on the west side of the project.
Project Director Mike Sorge said excitement on the job site is starting to build as Milwaukee's newest landmark comes to life.
"We're completed on the northwest corner 100 percent with structural steel."
Around 190 construction workers have been moving this half-billion dollar project along on time and on budget while focusing on steel framing. Senior Superintendent Denver Callahan calls it one of the riskiest operations of the entire project.
"Slips, trips, and falls, and we speak of that daily."
So far, Callahan says that hasn’t been an issue.
"We treat everyone on this project as family," he said.
Later this month, a second shift of crews will start working through the night to form the structure for seating, with hopes to enclose the roof by Thanksgiving. That phase will come with a big boost to their staff.
"(It) will grow to between 600 and 700 by the end of the summer," said Sorge.
The project has promised 40 percent of the workers will come from Milwaukee along with at least 8 percent minority participation.
"We're actually at 33 percent minority participation so it's really a phenomenal achievement,” said Sorge.
The arena is set to be completed by late July of 2018.
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