Building Description
MCSC Mission Statement: To promote sailing and make Lake Michigan accessible to everyone
in the Milwaukee community through quality programs.
Members-only, non-profit sailing school
Winter classes and many events are open to the public
We rent the land from the county, no city or county financial support for our operations
We have a Board of Directors, four year-round full-time staff, and about 30 seasonal staff
This is the 47th year of MCSC operations.
About the Building:
Built in 2008, opened in 2009. The original building was built in 1981.
There were more than 100 on-site construction workers involved in building this structure
There were more than 30 contracting firms, with more than 40 suppliers of raw and
finished materials, on site
The building design requires 4,800 lineal feet of structural steel and 506 tons of concrete
The geothermal system has with 14 wells bored 300 feet into the earth to provide heating
and cooling to the entire building, all of which are controlled in zones
The domed roof gathers water into a rain garden, which is currently under renovation, to
avoid adding storm water run off into the municipal sewer system
MCSC has committed to a ten year campus and fleet capital improvement plan, with
specific items targeted for each year. Eventually the maintenance facility will be
expanded so boats can be repaired and reconditioned and back into the water sooner.
Designer: HGA, Milwaukee.
From their portfolio:
“The Milwaukee Community Sailing Center facility expands access to the water for Milwaukee
area residents. The design of the building responds to the client’s desire to change the profile of
their organization in the community by creating an open and welcoming face looking to the city.
The message is that the Sailing Center is open to all who dream of sailing. The center includes:
year-round classrooms, a community meeting room, restroom and shower accommodations and a
boat maintenance area. A modest building, the new facility was designed to work within limited
financial means. It has been called “an environmental benchmark for new buildings” and features
green materials, resource conservation efforts and energy-efficient geothermal heating and
cooling.”
Construction Company: Oliver Construction Company
Visitor Experience
You will have access to a self-guided tour of MCSC’s history, as well as a chance to view the grounds, boats, and ask questions of the staff. Anyone going to the dock or to look at the boats is required to wear a lifejacket, which MCSC has available free of charge.
Address
1450 N Lincoln Memorial Dr
Saturday Hours
10 am - 5 pm
Sunday Hours
Not Open
Photography
Photography allowed, Videography allowed, Tripod allowed
Handicapped Accessible
Fully wheelchair accessible