• No Action taken on remediating deferred maintenance.
• Deterioration continues. Likely to shorten the useful life of Domes support structure through continued water infiltration.
• Requires continued reinvestment in mesh screens and intermittent closures for inspections.
• Sub-optimum conditions for plant collection continues.
• Excessive utility costs continue which divert County funding support from other positive expenditures in Domes operating budget.
• This Option is assumed to lead to the demolition of the Domes at some point in upcoming years.

No Initial Cost, Eventual Demolition Costs

Funding Commitment: Milwaukee County
Expected Lifespan: 5 Years
Expected Attendance: Continuous Decline

• Provision for transferring portions of the collections to a suitable location; or loss of valuable and important botanical collections.
• May require constructing a new facility to house portions of the collection; or shipping out-of-state. New uses would have to be found for the Greenhouses and Annex.
• Capital costs include: Demolition of Domes; re-landscape parking lots and roads, transferring plants to a new home, building a new facility, and investment in Greenhouses and Annex for new use.

$10 – $15 Million

Funding Commitment: Milwaukee County
Expected Lifespan: None
Expected Attendance: Lose Current 200,000+

• Repair building envelope (glass, seals, concrete coating, etc.).
• Address deficiencies in code compliance and accessibility access
• Operations continue as current.

$20 – $30 Million

Funding Commitment: Milwaukee County, Private Partnerships, Community Investment
Expected Lifespan: 25+ Years for the Domes, 50 Years for other structures
Expected Attendance: Minimal Change

• Address Deferred Maintenance
• Add key additions and new construction to increase functionality of Domes complex. Includes, classrooms, offices, meeting space, storage.
• Improve / expand guest entrance, ticketing sequence and group arrival areas.
• Add improved retail space, and food service with small seating area.
• Improve connections to greenhouses and Annex; Enhance Annex as a venue for farmers market and facility rentals, add catering kitchen.
• Increase parking capacity and site wayfinding; Improved connections to park and trail.
• Operating enhancements: staff, operations, programs, education, partnerships .
• Increased role for Friends of the Domes.

$40 – $50 Million

Funding Commitment: Milwaukee County, Private Partnerships, Community Investment
Expected Lifespan: 25+ Years for the Domes, 50 Years for other structures
Expected Attendance: 250,000+

• Address deferred maintenance and make targeted investments
• Show Dome: New immersive Ecological Habitat Zone; canopy walks, aquariums, live animals
• Create Changing Exhibit area and new facility for themed flower shows and other public events.
• Add butterfly and other animal exhibit elements to Botanical Domes.
• Add outdoor Children’s Garden in ticketed zone.
• Expand outdoor gardens — meditation, therapeutic, ethnic, rose, herb, heritage etc. and add Community Gardens.
• Add conservation and ecological elements in new exhibits and in Domes.
• Destination restaurant.
• Operating enhancements: staff, operations, programs, education, partnerships, Governance.

$70 – $95 Million

Funding Commitment: Milwaukee County, Significant Private Partnerships, Substantial Community Investment
Expected Lifespan: 25+ Years for the Domes, 50 Years for other structures
Expected Attendance: 400,000+

• Address deferred maintenance and make targeted investments
• Show Dome: New Themed Adventure Experience s: canopy walks, zip lines, climbing structures, water play features, playground. All with a botanical setting.
• Create Changing Exhibit area.
• Create new facility for themed flower shows and other public events.
• Add butterfly and other animal exhibit elements to Botanical Domes.
• Add outdoor Children’s Garden in ticketed zone.
• Destination restaurant.
• Operating enhancements: staff, operations, programs, education, partnerships, Governance.

$70 – $95 Million

Funding Commitment: Milwaukee County, Significant Private Partnerships, Substantial Community Investment
Expected Lifespan: 25+ Years for the Domes, 50 Years for other structures
Expected Attendance: 400,000+

• This option is the same as Option 5A, with the exception of the Show Dome being replaced with a new structure.
• Create EcoDome Destination Attraction in the location of razed Show Dome.
• This building targeted at 50+ year lifespan as compared to 25+ for Show Dome.
• Facilitates development in a built to suit building.
• Accommodates investment criteria with a long term facility lifespan.

$70 – $95 Million

Funding Commitment: Milwaukee County, Significant Private Partnerships, Substantial Community Investment
Expected Lifespan: 25+ Years for the Domes, 50 Years for new and other structures
Expected Attendance: 400,000+

• This option is the same as Option 5B, with the exception of the Show Dome being replaced with a new structure.
• Create Adventure Dome Destination Attraction in the location of razed Show Dome (Option 5B).
• This building targeted at 50+ year lifespan as compared to 25+ for Show Dome.
• Facilitates development in a built to suit building.
• Accommodates investment criteria with a long term facility lifespan.

$70 – $95 Million

Funding Commitment: Milwaukee County, Significant Private Partnerships, Substantial Community Investment
Expected Lifespan: 25+ Years for the Domes, 50 Years for new and other structures
Expected Attendance: 400,000+

Any Thoughts?

Complete our short survey to let us know your preferred option and submit any additional comments. The survey will close on July 9, 2018.

Need More Information?

Click below for detailed descriptions of all Eight (8) Options, including Governance, Staffing Implications, Potential Revenue Growth, Market Studies and more.