noted architects ferry & clas design structure
George Ferry and Alfred Clas were the masterminds behind the Marshall Building. The box-like shape and arched pavilions were common features of many warehouses at that time, yet the way it was constructed was groundbreaking. The pair also helped erect such esteemed structures as the Pabst Mansion, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist tower, Cudahy Tower and Milwaukee Public Central Library.

"turner mushroom system" proves successful
Built in 1906-07, the Marshall Building was a test project for Claude A.P. Turner's pioneering construction method. Otherwise known as the Turner System or the Spiral Mushroom System, it used flat-slab concrete floors that were supported by mushroom-headed columns and reinforced with steel rebar. Most buildings around this time used wood- and steel-framed floors, which made construction more expensive and tedious. The cost-effective technology resulted in a sturdy, built-to-last building. Today, the Marshall Building is the world's oldest existing example of Claude A.P. Turner's Mushroom System and is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

sixth floor added
The Marshall Building had a second topping-off ceremony in 1910-11 when a sixth floor was added to accommodate John Hoffmann & Sons growing retail operations.

building changes hands in '42
After John Hoffmann & Sons was purchased by Roundy's, residential real estate broker George Bockl dipped his feet in commercial real estate by purchasing the building in 1947. Named the Marshall Building in 1948, the building was occupied by such groups as the Army, Jewish Vocational Services and the American Civil Liberties Union. Bockl would later sell the building in 1966, but his legacy did not end here.

george bockl reinvents building and neighborhood
By the early-70s, Bockl had completely transitioned from residential to commercial real estate. Rehabilitating old buildings and implementing new ideas became his trademark. In 1974, Bockl reacquired the Marshall Building with the notion of turning it into an incubator for small businesses, artists and craftsmen. Affordable rents allowed budding entrepreneurs a place to sell their works or services and brought customers into the underutilized district. The move reactivated the neighborhood and paved the way for the building's next generation of tenants.

marshall building receives national recognition
In 2002, the Marshall Building was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark for being the world's oldest existing example of Claude Allen Porter Turner's Spiral Mushroom System.