{"id":387,"date":"2025-10-01T19:18:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T19:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scientificmediagroup.com\/?p=387"},"modified":"2025-10-02T16:09:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T16:09:31","slug":"neutral-says-tariffs-behind-construction-pause-at-worlds-tallest-mass-timber-building","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.scientificmediagroup.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/01\/neutral-says-tariffs-behind-construction-pause-at-worlds-tallest-mass-timber-building\/","title":{"rendered":"Neutral says tariffs behind construction pause at “worlds tallest mass-timber building”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Edison<\/div>\n

Local developer Neutral has stated that construction on its mass-timber<\/a> Edison skyscraper in Milwaukee<\/a>, which it claims will be the “world’s tallest”, has been halted due to rising tariffs.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to local outlets<\/a>, Neutral CEO Nate Helbach stated that construction on the residential tower Neutral Edison has temporarily halted due to “recent tariffs and broader inflation”.<\/p>\n

\"Edison
Construction on a mass timber building in Milwaukee has halted due to tariffs and inflation, according to its developer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Recent tariffs and broader inflation have materially increased key input hard costs,” said Helbach.<\/p>\n

“Pausing to value-engineer is a difficult but prudent step to safeguard the long-term success of 1005 N Edison. Our focus remains on delivering a resilient, exceptional building for Milwaukee.”<\/p>\n

\"Edison
It would be the tallest mass timber building in the US if completed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Located at 1005 N Edison Street in Milwaukee, if completed, Neutral Edison, or The Edison, would have 32 storeys at 375 feet-tall (110 metres) <\/em>and contain 353 residential units.<\/p>\n

This would make it the “tallest mass timber building in the world”, according to its developer, beating out the current title-holder, Ascent, which is also located in Milwaukee<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Neutral named rising economic costs as the reason for the pause, but other factors, such as cost mismanagement and disagreements with contractor CD Smith Construction<\/a>, have been cited by news sources, although the company has disputed the latter as “rumors”, according to local news outlet ENRMidwest<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Visual
The Edison building is located on the waterside edge of a larger development master-planned by Michael Green Architects<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“We appear to have a situation where they underestimated their costs, they started construction anyway, and they suddenly came to a realization the project was underfunded as designed,” Milwaukee alderman Robert Bauman told the Daily Reporter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the ENRMidwest reported that specific tariffs were not named by Neutral, in reference to several tariffs recently rolled out by the Trump administration<\/a> that may impact the building industry, including those on timber.<\/p>\n

Construction on the project began in June 2025, and it is unclear when it will start up again, although building consultant Thornton Tomasetti<\/a> lists the completion date as 2027 on its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n