The Haggerty Museum of Art was honored by the American Institute of Architects with the organization’s inaugural 25 Year Award, recognizing a Wisconsin architectural project that has demonstrated lasting impact, enduring relevance and continued excellence more than 25 years after its completion.
Completed in 1984, the Haggerty Museum of Art was designed by architecture firms Ford, Powell & Carson (San Antonio) and Kahler Slater (Milwaukee). The project was originally led by renowned architect O’Neil Ford, with David Kahler guiding the project through completion following Ford’s passing in 1982.
Kahler, who died earlier this year, was also responsible for numerous notable Wisconsin landmarks, including the restoration of the Wisconsin State Capitol and the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Bradley Wing addition and Quadracci Pavilion.
AIA noted the Haggerty Museum of Art’s design, which “balances modernist principles with contextual sensitivity.” The building features a sculptural copper-clad roof that references the Neo-Gothic architecture found throughout the Marquette campus while bringing carefully controlled natural light into gallery spaces. Organized around flexible exhibition environments and intuitive circulation, the museum has successfully accommodated evolving exhibitions, technologies and educational needs while maintaining its architectural identity.
“For over 40 years, the Haggerty Museum of Art has been an important cultural asset for Milwaukee, demonstrating how thoughtful design can strengthen institutions and their communities,” said Al Krueger, AIA, chief executive officer of Kahler Slater and nominator of the project. “We are honored to see this project recognized by AIA Wisconsin, particularly as we remember David Kahler. His leadership helped bring the museum to reality and his design legacy continues to shape the fabric of our city.”
“Since its opening, the building has hosted unique museum experiences inspiring the Marquette campus and the community alike,” said John McKinnon, director of the Haggerty Museum of Art. “Its enduring design has fluidly complemented countless exhibitions of nationally renowned artists, classes in galleries, notable talks by experts, and more that have all made the building a vital forum for dialogue.”
Located in the southeast corner of campus, the Haggerty Museum of Art is free and open to the public Monday through Friday. Through innovative exhibitions, arts education experiences and thought-provoking public programs, the museum invites both the university campus and the broader Milwaukee community to discover, question and connect.
This fall, the Haggerty Museum of Art will host three exhibitions and a full slate of free programs titled “The Otherworld is Home.”
“The museum’s design has stood the test of time because it continues to create meaningful experiences for the people who learn, gather and connect there,” Krueger said. “Its continued relevance is a powerful reminder that great architecture has the power to enrich life for generations.”
As the inaugural recipient of the 25 Year Award, the Haggerty Museum of Art will be honored for its architectural legacy and continued influence on Wisconsin’s built environment at the 2026 AIA Wisconsin Design Awards Gala on Friday, Oct. 2, at The Wisconsin Club in Milwaukee. Members of the architecture community and the public are invited to attend.
