Black and white picture of 4 story brick dormitory in the 1920's. Old car and motorcycle parked out front.
Wunder Dormitory © Concordia University Wisconsin

Campus Buildings Then & Now

Colin White Colin White

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Trinity Lutheran Church; tall steeple in the front. Weathered, dark cream city brick covered church built on a street corner.
In 1881 Concordia College held their first class in the basement of Trinity Lutheran Church at 9th and Highland Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. Image © Colin White
Old multicolored map depicting the original Concordia College buildings. The map is somewhat distorted.
The following year they moved west to their new campus. As shown in the 1890 Baist's Property Atlas, the campus borders were North 31st Street, North 33rd Street, West State Street and West Wells Street. It appears that at the time the Milwaukee & Watertown Plank Road still ran along the northern edge of campus. Image © Milwaukee County Land Information Office
A different map from 1894 that shows complete building outlines for the campus.
A non-distorted view of the campus buildings courtesy of the 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. Image © Milwaukee County Land Information Office
A map from 1910 that shows complete building outlines for the campus.
The 1910 Sanborn Map presents more development in the area as the plank road was removed and more homes were built. Image © Milwaukee County Land Information Office
An aerial view from the 70's with an outline around the campus boundaries and the Miller Brewing logo on the left; Marquette logo on the right.
The Concordia College campus (highlighted in blue) is 5 blocks east of the Miller Brewery and 13 blocks west of Marquette University's western edge. Image © Colin White; © Concordia University Wisconsin; © Molson Coors; © Marquette University
Black & white portrait of an elderly man wearing a suit and tie. His head is bald on top.
Emil Hamman was the chair and professor of mathematics and science at the college. He served as interim president from 1882-1885. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Black & white portrait of a middle-aged man wearing a suit and bow tie. He has a large bulbous beard with no mustache.
Chr. Loeber, the son of a Concordia founder named Henry Loeber, served as president from 1885-1893. Recent students will recognize this name from Loeber Hall at Concordia University Wisconsin's campus in Mequon. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
A picture of the campus today on a clear, winter day. There is a long 3 story brick building to the left; another complex of two 3 story buildings starting in the middle. In front are fields.
In 1990, seven years after Concordia College left for Mequon, the Forest County Potawatomi Community purchased the land after which they leased it to the Indian Community School. After the school relocated to Franklin in 2007, the Potawatomi evaluated the building conditions and created a long term restoration plan for the newly renamed Wgema Campus. All of the buildings were considered to be in poor shape and required extensive renovations. Recently deceased Potawatomi elder William “Billy” Daniels Jr. blessed and named each building. Daniels had built up the Potawatomi dictionary and was involved in continuing cultural education in the community. Image © Colin White
Black & white portrait of an elderly man wearing a suit and tie. He wears round eye-glasses and is bald on top.
Concordia College president Max Albrecht served from 1893-1921. Afterwards he continued on as a professor of Latin and Greek studies until 1932. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Black and white photo of a Beaux Arts, brick, 2.5 story building on a snowy, winter day.
Recitation Hall was built in 1900 using a design by architect Eugene Liebert. Eventually the building was renamed in honor of the longtime president and professor as Albrecht Hall. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
The same building in summer blocked by trees with a garden out front. The garden, surrounded by a walkway contains flowers that spell out
During the warm season of the year, the Kilbourn entrance to Albrecht Hall had a flower bed in front that spell out "CONCORDIA." Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Black and white photograph presenting the building from a distance on a summer day.
Albrecht Hall contained several classrooms, a lovely chapel, and was also used for administrative purposes. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Small museum room containing many taxidermy birds.
It also housed a small museum. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Mural painted on the wall of a conference room. The mural contains some trees along with two old castles behind them.  In 1881 Concordia College held their first class in the basement of Trinity Lutheran Church at 9th and Highland Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. Image © Colin White  The following year they moved west to their new campus. As shown in the 1890 Baist's Property Atlas, the campus borders were North 31st Street, North 33rd Street, West State Street and West Wells Street. It appears that at the time the Milwaukee & Watertown Plank Road still ran along the northern edge of campus. Image © Milwaukee County Land Information Office  A non-distorted view of the campus buildings courtesy of the 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. Image © Milwaukee County Land Information Office  The 1910 Sanborn Map presents more development in the area as the plank road was removed and more homes were built. Image © Milwaukee County Land Information Office  The Concordia College campus (highlighted in blue) is 5 blocks east of the Miller Brewery and 13 blocks west of Marquette University's western edge. Image © Colin White; © Concordia University Wisconsin; © Molson Coors; © Marquette University  Emil Hamman was the chair and professor of mathematics and science at the college. He served as interim president from 1882-1885. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin  Chr. Loeber, the son of a Concordia founder named Henry Loeber, served as president from 1885-1893. Recent students will recognize this name from Loeber Hall at Concordia University Wisconsin's campus in Mequon. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin  In 1990, seven years after Concordia College left for Mequon, the Forest County Potawatomi Community purchased the land after which they leased it to the Indian Community School. After the school relocated to Franklin in 2007, the Potawatomi evaluated the building conditions and created a long term restoration plan for the newly renamed Wgema Campus. All of the buildings were considered to be in poor shape and required extensive renovations. Image © Colin White  Concordia College president Max Albrecht served from 1893-1921. Afterwards he continued on as a professor of Latin and Greek studies until 1932. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin  Recitation Hall was built in 1900 using a design by architect Eugene Liebert. Eventually the building was renamed in honor of the longtime president and professor as Albrecht Hall. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin  During the warm season of the year, the Kilbourn entrance to Albrecht Hall had a flower bed in front that spell out
As Concordia is a Lutheran institution, some walls were painted with murals of east Germany's Lutherland area; where Martin Luther lived and challenged Roman Catholic doctrine 500 years ago. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
The building as it looks today. Very similar in appearance with a field in front.
An $11.5 million dollar restoration project was performed on the Wgechda Building which today is home to a tribal court and a community gathering room where the chapel formerly was. "Concordia College" is still prominently engraved along the top of the building. Image © Colin White
Two story brick building with a large smoke stack towards the back.
Built in 1925, the refectory, or cafeteria, was designed by R.A. Messmer. The second floor contained the campus infirmary and the building housed a power plant towards the back. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Black and white photo of a cafeteria where many young men are praying before their meal.
Meals at the college were served by freshman whom waited on the other students before eating whatever food remained. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Straight on picture of the front of the 2 story brick building with
Now named Wgemas, it received a $6.5 million renovation to upgrade the space for a senior meal program as well as a cultural center. Image © Colin White
2.5 story brick gymnasium; shaded by trees on a sunny day. Picture is taken from an angle.
The R.A. Messmer designed gymnasium was completed in 1930 after the original gymnasium was destroyed by fire in 1927. The gym was the Bucks' practice facility during their early years while a young Lou Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabaar) was with the team. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
A graduation ceremony within the gym building.
The gymnasium served as the Concordia College graduation venue. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Same building today looking straight on. A parking lot is visible in front.
The Woodlands School located nearby uses the Tthigwe Building for recess during the day; at night a community basketball program uses it. The Potawatomi plan to begin a nearly $5 million renovation of the 90 year old building sometime in the coming year. Image © Colin White
The gymnasium from the side; exposes a more red-toned brick on the expanded portion on the right.
Part of the renovation includes the possible demolition of the 1955 swimming pool addition located on the right side of the building. The college used sealants on the addition years ago which exaserbated the moisture control issues; Wisconsin's freeze-thaw cycle lead to shaled brick and degredations elsewhere in the building. Image © Colin White
Black and white photo of multiple people relaxing in or on the side of an indoor swimming pool.
People enjoying a swim at Concordia College's Ackmann swimming pool. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
2 story brick college building with 4 limestone columns protruding from the building's face. Entrance is at the top of stone stairs.
In 1941 the E.A. Stubenrauch designed Rincker Library was erected. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Tables at the front with students studying. In the rear are two floors of bookcases.
According to former student Pastor Wayne Braun, the library had issues meeting accreditation requirements prior to Concordia's exit from Milwaukee. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Facing the front windows there are several comfortable chairs with students reading in them. Behind them are the study tables.
Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Front of the library from an angle presenting the one floor glass connector to a neighboring building.
Rincker Library and Albrecht Hall are now consolidated into a single building named Wgechda. The $3.6 million library building rehabilitation project finished in 2014; it replaced the original, oddly designed building connection with a glass structure. The former library is referred to as Wgechda West while Albrecht Hall is now Wgechda East. Image © Colin White
Black and white photo of a 3 story brick building with 50's style cars parked alongside.
This 1925 cream city brick building was formerly known as Kilbourn Hall according to CUW's archive. It was used for student housing and "it housed the science laboratory and classroom, the Students' Library and the Sihler Library." Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Front of the cream city brick building.
Today the Kilbourn Knoll Apartments contains 12 residences. Image © Colin White
Black and white photo of a 3.5 story brick building under construction. An old 20's style car is parked out front with a motorcyle behind it.
The R.A. Messmer designed Wunder Dormitory was completed in 1925. To the left of the entrance was a small chapel for students to pray within; to the right of the entrance was the Dean of Women's office. Above the entrance was the resident assitant's room. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Group of young men reading and studying in a small room.
A shared living room in the dormitory circa 1955. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Group of young men sitting around a radio and relaxing.
In another living room the boys listen to the radio. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
A picture of the front of the former Wunder Dormitory. Two leave less trees are in front of the building.
After the conlusion of a 2012 $5 million renovation, Wunder Dormitory was renamed Bgemagen which translates to War Club. The building is office space for several businesses including the Potawatomi owned Potawatomi Business Development Corporation and construction firm Greenfire Management Services. According to their website, Potawatomi BDC is "the economic development and income diversification business of the Forest County Potawatomi Community." Greenfire has constructed buildings all over Wisconsin including the $100 million in-progress construction of Michels headquarters in Milwaukee's Harbor District. Image © Colin White
4 men in a black and white photo carrying boxes on the campus.
This 1959 picture shows former Concordia president Walter W. Stuenkel's son Robert moving into the dorms. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Newspaper clipping from 1965 with the headline
Concordia College was for men only until the 1965 school year. Wunder Dormitory transitioned to female dormitories while male students moved into the new constructed Pritzlaff Dormitory across the way. A former student said the women were playfully referred to as "Wunder women." Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
A man exiting a building with arms full of boxes and various other items.
Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
A 3 story L shaped brick building on a sunny summer day.
According to Concordia University, the L shaped Pritzlaff Dormitory was constructed as three wings. Section A, which runs along State Street, was completed in 1950 while the other two sections that run along N 31st St were completed by 1954. The building was designed by Sheboygan architect Edgar A. Stubenrauch. Section A was eventually converted into office space after being vacant for several years due to declining enrollment. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Small student lounge containing a few tables and a store counter in back.
Located on the first floor of Pritzlaff, the student lounge in 1955 was pretty humble. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
An upgraded, 1960's style, student lounge.
The lounge received a contemporary makeover in 1965. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
The 3 story L shaped brick building on a sunny winter day.
Pritzlaff Dormitory was renovated for $1.6 million and renamed Nengos in 2014. The Indian Community School occupied it from 1990 through 2007 at which time they moved into their new school building in Franklin. Current tenant the Woodlands School opened their second campus here in 2013. Image © Colin White
A portion of the 3 story brick building.
The State Street side of Nengos, where section A and B connects, has a service door visible at the bottom left of the photograph; this was the site of the Concordia campus bookstore. Image © Colin White
A large playground in front of Nengos on the right and Bgemagen on the left.
The Woodlands School playground was an open space during Concordia's years. Students had nicknamed the area "Fort Blitz" as they would stand atop the dormitory buildings and throw snowballs at unfortunate people that happened to wander by. Image © Colin White
A view east at Wunder Dormitory and Pritzlaff Dormitory in the 1960's.
Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
2 story brick college building with a large green space in front. A small stone retaining wall is in the forefront.
The State Street Building was Concordia College's final construction project. It was located on the north side of State Street and contained several classrooms. It was later home to Spotted Eagle High School before being demolished in 2012 to make way for a data center. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Mostly female students receiving a lecture from a man at a lectern at the front of the classroom.
Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
An aerial view of the Concordia campus showing the space between West State Street and West Highland Boulevard. There is a baseball diamond situated here.
Concordia College had a baseball diamond to the west of the former State Street Building. Image © Milwaukee County Land Information Office
Group photo of the baseball team.
The Concordia baseball team in 1925. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Group photo of the baseball team outside standing in front of some campus buildings.
The Concordia baseball team in 1930. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
A new tall two story brick building with a large black fence protecting in front.
After the State Street Building demolition, the Leroy Shockto Sr. Building was completed in 2013 to house a data center operated by Data Holdings. The Wgema Campus Police Department headquarters is also located within. The surrounding area has seen a 10-15% decrease in crime during recent years. Image © Colin White
An array of solar panels on a grass lot with a surrounding fence.
A solar panel array was installed directly west of the Leroy Shockto Sr. Building early in 2020 on the former baseball field. Image © Colin White
Black and white photograph of a two story house with a five story tower within.
The Concordia neighborhood is home to many historic homes and buildings such as the 1851 Faries-Rood-Yale Tower House located at at 3011 W. State St. Concordia College purchased the Tower House in 1960 and used it as an admissions office through the 1970's. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
The cream city brick tower house today after a restoration.
The home received a thorough renovation recently and is now a private residence. Image © Colin White
Old photo of an ornate, single story house with two stone lion statues on either side of the entrance.
The Edward V. Koch designed Lion House is another iconic neighborhood building constructed in 1897. It housed the Concordia College development office for a short period. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
Current photo of an ornate, single story, cream city brick house with two stone lion statues on either side of the entrance.
Today it is owned by the Forest County Potawatomi and leased out as office space. Image © Colin White
Black and white photo of a block of 2.5 story houses with cars parked in front.
Concordia College owned a large number of residences in the surrounding area. They allowed faculty or married students to live in some while others were rented out while the college worked on plans to expand the campus. One block along W. Kilbourn Ave. was dubbed "Faculty Row" since some professors and their families lived there. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin
An aerial view of the Concordia campus showing a new track at the center.
Faculty Row was demolished in the 1970's to make way for a running track south of the gymnasium. Image © Milwaukee County Land Information Office
A parking lot with several buildings in the distance.
Between 2014 and 2019 the track was removed and replaced with a new Wgema Campus parking lot and structure. Image © Colin White
Open grass field on a sunny winter day.
The Potawatomi Community submitted a proposal in November of 2020 to install more than 800 solar panels capable of generating 335 kilowatts of energy in an empty grass parcel. These solar panels would be located south of the Tigawa gymnasium where Faculty Row used to be. It is zoned for $250 thousand of light industrial so it may one day house another data center. Image © Colin White
A man leaning on a 1940's style bus branded with
After Concordia College demolished several blocks of old houses, many neighborhood residents became unnerved. The college did a poor job of managing their rental properties; likely owed to their plan to demolish them and expand the campus. Community members feared the history and character of their neighborhood would be irrevocably changed by the continued demolition of old houses.
An aerial view of the Concordia campus in Mequon from the 1980's.
After struggling for years to convince neighbors or city officials of their need to expand, in 1983 Concordia College finally decided to purchase the 102 acre School Sisters of Notre Dame campus in Mequon for $7.1 million. The student population grew from around 300 in 1983 to more than 7 thousand today. Image © Concordia University Wisconsin

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