[5] Milwaukee City Hall was designed by architect Henry C. Koch in the Flemish Renaissance Revival style,[4][6] based on both German precedent (for example, the Hamburg Rathaus or city hall), and local examples (the Pabst Building, demolished in 1981).

The foundation consists of 2,584 white pine piles that were driven into the marshy land surrounding the Milwaukee River.

[10] It was designed and crafted by the Campbells, who were early pioneers in creating diving chambers and suits near the Great Lakes area during that time.

[11] From 2006 to 2008, the entire building was renovated, including a complete dis-assembly and reassembly of the bell tower, by J. P. Cullen & Sons, Inc., a construction manager and general contractor headquartered in Janesville, Wisconsin.

[13] Additionally, Milwaukee County Transit System routes 15,[14] 18,[15] and 57,[16] as well as the GreenLine bus, serve City Hall.