Milwaukee – (January 18, 2022) – Zizzo Group Engagement Marketing (ZG), the region’s first engagement marketing agency, has announced its vision and plans for the company’s new, mixed-use office and tenant space at 131 S. First Street in Walker’s Point. ZG is working with award-winning design collective and architectural firm RINKA+ on the adaptive reuse of the historic Brass Light Gallery Building, and has unveiled the initial internal and external renderings of its new office space. ZG plans to relocate to its new headquarters in June of this year.
Anne Zizzo, president and CEO of Zizzo Group Engagement Marketing, purchased the 12,200-square-foot building and adjacent parking lot from Seeds of Health, Inc. in June of 2021. The new mixed-use office and tenant space also has a ‘pocket park’ or green space directly across the street. Zizzo still owns ZG’s current site at 207 N. Milwaukee Street in the Historic Third Ward and is expanding her investment into these two Milwaukee communities. In fact, the corner of the new location is directly on the property line where Walker’s Point begins and the Third Ward ends.
“We are thrilled to work with Matt and the first-class team at RINKA again to design our new headquarters and tenant space,” said Anne Zizzo. “This is an iconic building we want to celebrate and activate in a special way that recognizes it as the gateway to two hot Milwaukee neighborhoods. At the same time, we want to benefit our company, local residents and neighboring businesses. Now more than ever before, creativity is the most unignorable factor in business; and our future office space at this location will embody this.”
Design features include a significant entry off of Seeboth Street with a welcoming gallery-like arrival experience leading to a new modern staircase, which connects to an upper floor reception and outdoor roof terrace. All of the spaces highlight the unique historical architectural elements of the building, while modernizing the work space to reflect Zizzo Group’s culture for passion and creativity. There are several zones dedicated to a range of different working styles and ways of collaborating with creatives. The intent is that the work space is visually connected to the historical past while incorporating the latest technology and trends in digital marketing workspace design.
Celebrating the history of the building, the exterior façade reflects a high level of craftmanship in the unique masonry detailing around arched window openings that will be re-exposed and along cornice lines that provide the building with street presence and character. Original to the building, the interior is articulated with a more simple heavy timber structure that provides a feeling of strength and longevity along with warmth of natural wood. The Historic Third Ward and Walker’s Point neighborhoods feature the Milwaukee River and riverwalk on their doorstep and are also in close proximity to take advantage of the lakefront.
One third of the first floor and all of the second floor of the building will be dedicated to ZG. The ZG office space has been designed to accommodate the firm’s strategic plan which includes additional staff, acquisition of complimentary digital marketing firms and clients in top 20 markets, and a hybrid work schedule where ZG staff works remotely 50% of the work week. The new space will incorporate the latest in digital and remote-work technology, hot desks, zoom rooms and encourages collaboration and mobility inside and outside of the building. The new office space includes multiple collaboration spaces and lounges for in-office group and client meetings and entertaining. There will also be a rooftop terrace and patio with a fire table for clients and employees to gather and enjoy Milwaukee’s beautiful skyline year-round. The new office space provides the opportunity for ZG to evolve and grow now and well into the future.
“The team at RINKA has captured the spirit of Zizzo Group and incorporated our culture and modern amenities, while paying tribute to the historic architectural elements of the building,” said Zizzo.
“We have partnered closely with Anne and her team, conducting multiple sessions to obtain input from employees on what will work best in the new space,” said Matt Rinka, partner at RINKA+. “Our design incorporates the newest trends in progressive office planning strategies, and celebrates the history of the building and neighborhood to create a functional and dynamic workplace that reflects the unique culture of Zizzo Group.”
As a new, founding member-level investor in the Walker’s Point Neighborhood Association, Zizzo is excited about the future of the neighborhood. She is creating 3,800 square feet of space on the first floor for a neighborhood amenity, and already has interest from fast casual cafés, event spaces, restaurants and corner stores. Similarly, she would like to partner with the city to explore ways to revitalize the pocket park directly across from the building into a beautiful greenspace that provides a welcoming area for the community to enjoy.
RINKA+ also worked with ZG on transforming its current 13,000-square-foot office space located in the Historic Third Ward, which Zizzo is looking to sell or lease. Interested parties can visit ZizzoVentures.com for additional information.
The building at 131 S. First Street was previously occupied by Tenor High School, which is part of Milwaukee charter school system Seeds of Health Inc. Seeds of Health leased the space from ZG through the end of 2021 before moving in December after its new high school space was finished at 918-922 N. Phillips Ave., the redeveloped former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel office complex, now known as Journal Square.
