Milwaukee Art Museum

The Quadracci Pavilion at the Milwaukee Art Museum is a space where the community connects with art, each other, and the world. Designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the 142,050-square-foot structure was completed in 2001. Home to a grand reception hall, an auditorium, a large exhibition space, the Museum Store, the Museum Café, and an underground parking garage, the soaring building welcomes thousands of visitors each year.

The Burke Brise Soleil, affectionately known as “the wings,” is an engineering marvel that defines Milwaukee’s skyline. This kinetic structure atop the Quadracci Pavilion serves as a movable sunscreen. It takes 3.5 minutes for the wings to open or close. The 217-foot wingspan opens when the Museum opens, gracefully flaps at noon, and closes at 10 p.m. The architect described the Burke Brise Soleil as “formal (completing the composition), functional (controlling the level of light), symbolic (opening to welcome visitors), and iconic (creating a memorable image for the Museum and the city).”

At the heart of it is Windhover Hall. Free and open to the public, it serves as the Museum’s front entrance and is among the building’s many architectural highlights. Featuring flying buttresses, pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and a central nave topped by a 90-foot-high glass roof, it is Calatrava’s interpretation of a Gothic cathedral. Adjoining Windhover Hall are two promenades—Baumgartner Galleria and Schroeder Galleria—with expansive views of Lake Michigan and downtown Milwaukee.

According to Santiago Calatrava, the Quadracci Pavilion’s design “responds to the culture of the lake: the sailboats, the weather, the sense of motion and change.”

This year, we celebrate 25 years of the Quadracci Pavilion and everything it has made possible for Milwaukee and the region. Visit “Built to Inspire” and explore the vision, engineering, craftsmanship, and lasting impact of this remarkable architectural icon.

Visiting the Quadracci Pavilion is always free, and during Doors Open, visitors can also enjoy complimentary docent-led architecture tours. Admission is required to view the Museum’s galleries and special exhibitions.

As always, Members and children ages 12 and under receive free admission.