Milwaukee isn't known for risk-taking architecture. Even though the city has a thriving subculture of "edgy" individuals, much of the societal rebellion is left to Madison a couple of hours away. This building is a good start toward fixing the city's expressed repression. Its soaring curves and radiating cables would be at home in Europe or Australia. But this is the American Midwest founded on brick and beams. The European influence comes from Santiago Calatrava, a Spanish architect. In fact, this is his first building in the United States. It includes new galleries, an auditorium, a store, restaurant, and reception hall with a 90-foot high glass wall. The Quadracci Pavilion's greatest diversion from the status quo is the "Burke Brise Soleil" which is described as a piece of functional art It is a huge blind tat moves like a motorized sculpture. Even more impressive is the suspended pedestrian bridge. Its 200-foot-tall angled tower is evocative of Rotterdam's Erasmusbrug.

• 1996- Design for pavilion unveiled.
• December, 1997 - Groundbreaking.
• May 4, 2001 - Main body of the Pavilion opens to the public.
• September 14, 2001 - Remainder of the building opens.

Photograph courtesy of Larry Harris

Photograph courtesy of Larry Harris