Zimmerman Architectural Studios, Inc.

The City Lights campus was originally home to the Milwaukee Gas Light Company’s West Side Works, which facilitated the coal gasification process that produced the gas that lit the street lamps throughout the City of Milwaukee. Visitors will experience guided tours to learn about the building’s rich history as a part of Milwaukee’s industrial landscape.

The buildings were originally planned and designed more than a century ago by Alexander Eschweiler. This particular building was used for super heating of the coal in the absence of oxygen, known as the retort process, to yield the coal gas.

Over time, the building’s purpose evolved. It later served as a truck terminal and warehouse, during which its windows were bricked or boarded up, and the structure gradually fell into disrepair.

In 2008, Zimmerman Architectural Studios brought new life to the historic building through a thoughtful renovation. Their design highlights the space’s striking, cathedral-like interior, welcoming natural light back in, and emphasizing the openness of the original structure. A whimsical, two-story gasometer now serves as the heart of the gathering space, while the restored roof reveals the building’s original trusswork, beautifully blending its industrial past with a modern, collaborative spirit. In 2026, Zimmerman Architectural Studios celebrates its 120th anniversary, marking more than a century of shaping spaces and preserving the stories behind them.