Engineering

Latest Update

March 30, 2023
The City of Madison is collaborating with Dane County to plan for and design a purpose-built shelter facility that will serve primarily men in our community who experience homelessness. The facility, to be built at 1904 Bartillon Drive, will be Madison’s first purpose-built shelter. Please join the City of Madison, Dane County and Porchlight, Inc at one of the three upcoming public information meetings to get an overview of the project, pre-design concepts and information on next steps.

• 5:30-7 p.m., May 9, 2023, Virtual via Zoom. Registration prior is required: May 9, 2023 Public Information Meeting Registration
• 5:30-7 p.m., May 11, 2023, in person at East Madison Community Center, 8 Straubel Court, Madison, Wis., 53704 (Spanish and Hmong Interpreter Services will be available.)
• 5:30-7 p.m., May 17, 2023, in person at Hawthorne Library, 2707 E Washington Ave., Madison, Wis., 53704

If you need interpreter services, please contact: cdd@cityofmadison.com (Si necesita servicios de interpretación, comuníquese con) (Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais lus, thov hu rau)

Project Overview

Oct. 14, 2022: The City of Madison is collaborating with Dane County to plan for and design a purpose-built shelter facility that will serve primarily men in our community who experience homelessness. The facility, to be built at 1902 Bartillon Drive, will be Madison’s first purpose-built shelter. We are gathering feedback to ensure that it best meets the needs of those who will use it and the community more broadly. We know how important it is to engage folks with lived experience, service providers, and the neighborhood on shelter design and supportive service needs. The City will use this feedback to help inform decisions. In particular, this survey (closed Nov. 4, 2022) is designed to collect input from three specific groups:

• Persons who have experienced homelessness and who are currently using overnight shelter services, have used shelter services in the past, or have chosen not to use shelter services.

• Service providers and other community stakeholders who have, or do work with, unhoused populations and want to share their perspectives regarding the service needs they see in the community.

• People who live, own, or operate businesses in or near the area where the shelter is planned to be built.

The survey was structured so that the questions it asks are different depending on which of the three groups you identify with. However, if you identify with more than one group (e.g. a service provider with lived experience) please consider taking the survey more than once so we can gather your feedback on all relevant questions.  

January 13, 2023
Dimension IV was selected as the architect for this project in mid-2022. Porchlight was selected as the shelter operator in late-2022 and is actively involved with the project’s design. The Project is currently in Pre Design until early March 2023. The team has completed a significant outreach effort and published a Trauma Informed Design Report. The team is currently working on finalizing the program and stacking/blocking diagrams. The program is being coordinated with the operating budget to ensure that the design is affordable and sustainable. We anticipate a public meeting about the project to occur in April 2023. Site and building imagery will be posted here ahead of the public meeting.

Project Schedule

City User Agency: Community Development Division (CDD)
RFP for Architectural Design Services Advertisement: April 20, 2022
RFP for Architectural Design Services Due Date: May 19, 2022 @ 2:00 p.m.
RFP documents can be found on Vendor Net and DemandStar

Planning and Design: 2022-2023

• Pre Design: Q1 2023
• Schematic Design: Q2 2023
• Design Development: Q3 2023
• Construction Documents: Q4 2023

1st Advertisement of Bid: Q1 2024
Bid Due Date: TBD
Construction Start Date: TBD
Expected Completion Date: Q2 2025

Public Involvement

There are a number of points of contact during this project where the public is encouraged to give feedback as part of public information meetings and public hearings. Dates, times and locations are indicated below:

Public Information Meetings

May 9, 2023, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Virtual via Zoom. Registration prior is required: May 9, 2023 Public Information Meeting Registration

May 11, 2023, 5:30-7:00 p.m. in person at East Madison Community Center, 8 Straubel Court, Madison, Wis., 53704 (Spanish and Hmong Interpreter Services will be available.)

May 17, 2023, 5:30-7:00 p.m. in person at Hawthorne Library, 2707 E Washington Ave., Madison, Wis., 53704

March 29, 2023 Northeast Area Plan Open House

Apr. 18, 2022 Neighborhood Virtual Meeting Recording

City Process Meetings

Approving the selection of Porchlight, Inc. as the operator of a new facility, to be constructed by the City, to provide emergency shelter and supportive services primarily to male-identifying persons in Madison and Dane County that experience homelessness, and to authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into any agreements and contracts with Porchlight, Inc. necessary to fulfill that purpose.

July 20, 2022 Board of Public Works File #72631
Approving the selection of Dimension IV - Madison, LLC to provide architectural and engineering design services, and construction administrative services, to the City of Madison associated with the development of a homeless shelter facility at 1902 Bartillon Drive (12th AD), and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a contract with Dimension IV - Madison, LLC to perform those services.
Apr. 19, 2022 Common Council File #70582
Approving the selection of the property located at 1902 Bartillon Drive as the site for a permanent shelter facility serving men experiencing homelessness, authorizing the City’s Engineering Division to undertake a competitive process to select an entity to provide architectural and engineering design services, subject to Common Council approval, and authorizing the City’s Community Development Division to undertake a similar effort to select an operator for the facility, again, subject to Council approval.

Oct. 05, 2021 File #67405
Authorizing the City’s execution of a Purchase and Sale Agreement between the City of Madison and Danlilly, LLC, or their successors and assigns, for the purchase of the property located at 1902 Bartillon Drive in the City of Madison to provide the City with both short-term and long-term options to address homelessness.

In the News

Open House for Upcoming Plans in Northeast Area

Permanent Madison men’s homeless shelter is on track

Press Release City and County Announce Additional $9 million Investment in Men’s Homeless Shelter 
Press Conference: News Conference: City & County Announce $9 million for Men's Shelter

Seeking Shelter: Service gaps remain in Madison's help for homeless
June 07, 2022 Wisconsin State Journal
Mayor stays committed to new homeless men's shelter with cost now seen at $21 million

Madison Common Council approves plans to establish a permanent men’s homeless shelter
April 21, 2022 City of Madison Mayor's Office Blog
Unanimous Approval of Site for Men’s Homeless Shelter

Madison Common Council unanimously approves men’s homeless shelter site

Madison Common Council unanimously approves permanent men's homeless shelter

Alders host meeting to discuss permanent men's homeless shelter

Incoming Madison men’s homeless shelter to get extra $2M in federal funds

$2 million in federal funding for men's homeless shelter in Madison

Madison’s search for a homeless shelter, explained
March 22, 2022 Madison.com
Rep. Mark Pocan announces $2 million for permanent homeless men's shelter on Madison
March 20, 2022 The Badger Herald
Some alderpersons say mayor excluded them from homeless shelter location discussion
March 17, 2022 Madison.com
Get it done to help the homeless in Madison
March 11, 2022 The Badger Herald
Local government officials announce location for permanent men’s homeless shelter
March 10, 2022 Channel3000.com
Alders insist they support homeless shelter site, but continue to voice concern over mayor’s process
March 10, 2022 NBC15.com
Alders ask Madison mayor to improve communication with plans to build men’s shelter
March 9, 2022 WKOW.com
Rhodes-Conway, Parisi unveil initial plan for new men's homeless shelter
March 9, 2022 Channel3000.com
Two city alders accuse Madison mayor of ‘cutting them out’ of men’s homeless shelter process
March 9, 2022 WORTFM.org
Satya’s Plan For Homeless Shelter Location Could Face Hurdles
March 9, 2022 The Cap Times
Madison, Dane County pick permanent men’s homeless shelter site
March 9, 2022 Wisconsin State Journal
Madison, Dane County pick permanent homeless men's shelter site on Far East Side
March 9, 2022 City of Madison News Updates
City and County Announce Location of Permanent Men’s Shelter
March 9, 2022 Wisconsin Public Radio
'This is the missing piece': Madison, Dane County pick site for men's homeless shelter
March 9, 2022 Channel 3000.com
‘We don’t have anything like it’: Madison announces plans for purpose-built men’s homeless shelter
March 9, 2022 NBC15.com
Madison, Dane Co. reveal spot for new men’s homeless shelter
November 18, 2021 City of Madison - Fire
Bartillon Drive Training Burn A Chance To Practice Key Firefighting Skills
Oct. 5, 2021 NBC15.com
Madison Common Council votes to buy 2 properties for possible homeless shelters
Oct. 5, 2021 WKOW.com
Madison's Common Council approves purchase of two buildings to help support homeless population
Sept. 28, 2021 The Cap Times
Madison Finance Committee recommends buying two properties for homeless services
Sept. 27, 2021 NBC15.com
Finance Committee passes resolutions to move forward with two east side homeless shelter locations
Sept. 23, 2021 Ag Update
City again seeks to buy building near East Towne Mall for homeless men's shelter
Sept. 22, 2021 The Daily Cardinal
City council to discuss proposals to purchase properties for homeless shelters