Men's Shelter Achieves LEED Gold Certification
The City of Madison Engineering Division is proud to announce the Men's Shelter Facility has achieved LEED© Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The Men's Shelter, located at 1904 Bartillon Drive, in Madison, Wis., is Madison's first purpose-built shelter facility serving men in the community who are experiencing homelessness. The certification adds to the City's LEED efforts for all its buildings.
“We're thrilled that the Men's Shelter has achieved LEED Gold certification, demonstrating our deep commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship," City of Madison City Engineer Jim Wolfe said. “This milestone reflects the values of our community and sets the stage for a facility that will positively serve our community for years to come."
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized green building certification system that evaluates buildings on their environmental performance. LEED-certified buildings aim to use less energy and water, reduce waste, and create better spaces for occupants. Achieving LEED Gold certification means a building has met specific standards for sustainability, from energy efficiency and renewable energy use, to indoor air quality. These buildings cost less to operate over their lifetime and provide healthier indoor environments.
This is the City's seventeenth LEED certified project, and eleventh city project to achieve LEED Gold status.
LEED Gold Highlights for the Men's Shelter
- High-performance LED Lighting
- High-performance HVAC system (including a geothermal system)
- Building is ventilated by ASHRAE standards which exceed code requirements
- Ventilation is filtered at a high level (MERV 13)
- Energy-efficient windows and doors provide natural light and views
- Reduced air infiltration
- Energy efficient appliances
- Only low VOC materials and products were used
- Low flow plumbing fixtures reduce water consumption
- Enhanced storm water management system
- Access to the city bus system and ample parking for bikes
- Solar PV panels supplement electrical energy use
- Rainwater Cistern system for use by restroom toilet fixtures
The City of Madison Engineering Division's Facilities staff partnered with Dimension IV Madison for the design of the project, and Miron Construction on the construction of the project.
Background on the Men's Shelter
It cost $27 million to build the new men's shelter. Dane County and the City of Madison supported the shelter costs with capital investments. Federal sources also supported the build.
Unlike previous shelter settings in Madison that have relied on converted spaces built for other uses, the new facility is designed specifically to function as a shelter focused on returning guests to stable housing. The building includes trauma-informed features that promote safety, privacy, accessibility, and efficient service delivery, creating a more welcoming environment for both guests and staff.
The shelter is located on Madison's east side at 1904 Bartillon Drive. Porchlight, Inc., a local non-profit organization, is operating the shelter. Porchlight has provided shelter and supportive services to men experiencing homelessness in Dane County for decades.
