Construction has halted in Milwaukee on what would be the tallest mass timber building in the United States. The project, named Neutral Edison, was unveiled in June of this year, designed by developer Neutral’s in-house design team.
“Recent tariffs and broader inflation have materially increased key input hard costs,” said Neutral in a statement carried by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “During this pause, Neutral is working with C.D. Smith Construction on a comprehensive cost-reduction and value-engineering process.”
Image credit: Neutral
In June, we reported on an analysis by the ABC which found that tariffed construction materials had increased, following a separate ABC analysis in April, which found that tariffs were driving a rapid increase in construction material prices. Also in April, we outlined five ways construction contracts could be re-designed for tariff uncertainty.
“While an exact timeline to resume vertical construction has not yet been determined, Neutral intends to proceed once the value-engineering process is complete,” Neutral’s statement added.
Image credit: Neutral
The 31-story development broke ground in June 2025 and was due to be completed by 2027. The current scheme would contain 350 residential units and approximately 7,200 square feet of retail space. According to Neutral, the scheme’s use of mass timber reduces the building’s embodied carbon footprint by an estimated 54%, and cuts operational carbon and energy use by 45% compared to conventional equivalents.
Image credit: Neutral
The project has been in planning for several years, according to reporting by local outlet The Daily Reporter. In 2022, the tower was designed with 15 stories, which was later doubled.
Reacting to the halt in construction, Milwaukee Alderman Robert Bauman warned of his belief that the value engineering sought to “dumb down” the scheme.
“We could end up with a smaller building, different façade, different amenities, and a different product that cuts the cost,” Bauman said in comments carried by The Daily Reporter. “I’m very concerned about this. We were sold a project that was going to be 31 stories tall, the tallest mass timber building in North America, and now we’re ending up with something very, very different.”