Since 1914, property owners must provide plans for new construction, alterations, additions, and changes-in-use for all public buildings, multi-unit residences, and places of employment. Exempt from review under ILHR Code 50.04 are some buildings under 25,000 cubic feet, farm buildings, buildings on Indian reservations, federally-owned government buildings, and one- and two-family home dwellings.
The Building Plans Correspondence documents exchanges between owners and the staff of the Bureau of Buildings and Structures in the Department of Industry, Labor, and Human Relations (its predecessor, the Industrial Commission and its successor, the Division of Safety & Buildings of the Department of Commerce) during the approval process. The correspondence is a valuable record for building-related research for the information contained on specific buildings but also because of the insight the records give in the development of technology and architecture in Wisconsin.
Because of the nature of plan approval, these files have enormous potential for research on building technology and materials. Because the buildings were generally large scale, materials were identified by supplier and type, and wall sections. One can follow manufacturers, product lines, structural systems, and materials over time. For example, one file contains correspondence from Unit Structures of Peshtigo, a nationally important innovator of glue-laminated trusses. Buildings with innovative structural systems, such as the Johnson Wax headquarters, have rich documentation to aid the researcher.
When researching architectural history in Wisconsin, the Building Plans Correspondence is an invaluable source. For a majority of Wisconsin buildings, no building permits, plans, or other similar records exist. Determining dates of construction and architects or builders (especially for industrial complexes) is often a random search done through newspapers. The Building Plans Correspondence specifies this information making it perhaps the single most valuable building record in the state.
EXEMPTIONS AFFECTING RECORDS IN THIS SERIES
Review certifications by municipalities -- This series contains the building plans correspondence from throughout the state except the cities of Milwaukee and Madison. These cities have authority to conduct plan reviews and inspections within their boundaries except for state projects. Also, some municipalities have been certified by the state to conduct plan reviews and inspections of:
- new buildings of less than 50,000 cubic feet total volume,
- additions to existing buildings where the total volume after construction of the addition is less than 50,000 cubic feet, and
- alterations to existing buildings where the volume of altered space is less than 100,000 cubic feet.
For a current listing of counties, cities, villages, and town with review certification, consult the latest edition of “Wisconsin Buildings Codes Report” in the Current Periodicals Section of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library on the second floor or call the Division of Safety and Buildings of the Department of Commerce.
Secured buildings -- In addition to all state owned or leased buildings, records of buildings determined to be “secured” under Wis. Stat. 101.12 (5)(a)(2)b-e. As defined by Wis. Stats., “secured structures” means a building or other structure of a type which the department, city, village, town, or county determines to have extraordinary security requirements, included but not limited to structures used:
- for the safekeeping of large sums of money, negotiable instruments, securities or other valuables,
- as a jail, correctional facility or other secure facility for persons in detention,
- for the safekeeping or evaluation of evidence in criminal proceedings or investigations,
- for the safekeeping of weapons, ordnance or explosives, or
- in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electric power, fuels, or communications.
In practice the statutes restrict from immediate access jails, police stations, most courthouses, armories, and the buildings which provide utilities such as electricity, gas, or telephone service. Buildings associated with these utilities but which do not actually provide the service, are not restricted. This means that while the power plant correspondence may be restricted, correspondence of its offices are not. To gain access to secured building plans correspondence, researchers must obtain permission in writing from the current building owner. For state owned or leased buildings, permission must be obtained from the Department of Administration.
SEARCHING STRATEGIES
Consult the DILHR Building Plans Correspondence Worksheets, filed in the Series 2284-2285 folder in the Archives Research Room, for instructions on locating the appropriate files for your research.
In general, when looking for an e-file or a project number, the following questions will help you locate the correct information in the index, Series 2285, “Index to Building Plans Correspondence,” or when calling the Division of Safety and Buildings.
- What city is the building located in?
- What is the building address (be as specific as possible)?
- What is the owner's name (try both the person's name and the corporate name if there is one)?
- What is the previous owner's name (if any)?
- What is the building used for?
- When was the last time something was done on the building?
