By Vincent Campagna, PTMP
When you think of the largest buildings in any city, your mind probably goes to soaring skyscrapers, massive stadiums, or sprawling airports. But in Wisconsin, the largest building by square footage isn’t a tower or arena—it’s actually the Parking Garage at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
This six-story, 8,000-space post-tensioned (P/T) structure was built in three phases. The Red Section, closest to the terminal, was originally constructed in 1977. A 1989 expansion, known as the Blue Section, added 126,000 square feet per floor along the western edge, and a 2002 expansion, the Yellow Section, extended the garage along the northern side, adding another 209,000 square feet per floor. Altogether, the garage covers more than 3.5 million square feet, making it the largest building—by square footage—in the entire state of Wisconsin.
For comparison:
U.S Bank Center (Milwaukee): Tallest building in Wisconsin – 42 stories, 1,077,607 sq ft
Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons (Milwaukee): 32 stories, 1,100,00 sq ft
Clinical Services Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison: 1,897,439 sq ft
Lambeau Field (Green Bay): 1,900,000 sq ft
During these expansions, a total of six elevators were added: two in the 1989 section and four more in the 2002 expansion. The 2002 project also introduced an enclosed pedestrian skywalk on the third level, featuring two sets of moving walkways. This climate-controlled corridor connects the garage to the terminal, offering comfort and convenience for travelers during Wisconsin’s hot summers and frigid winters.
For most of the year—aside from peak travel periods like Spring Break—this massive structure has ample capacity to accommodate nearly all travelers who choose to park there. So next time you’re planning to park at MKE, choose the garage and take a moment to look around and appreciate the sheer scale of this remarkable facility. You can proudly say, “I’m standing in the largest building in Wisconsin!”
Vincent Campagna, PTMP, is a Manager, Parking & Ground Transportation for Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. Vincent can be reached at vcampagna@mitchellairport.com.