Engineering

Latest Update

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 Update
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.

July 07, 2023 Update
We recently completed the Schematic Design Phase for this project and are starting Design Development in July.  A sample of the floor plan and site plan can be viewed HERE. The project is still tracking to be advertising for bids in early 2024 with construction starting soon thereafter and complete by mid 2025. Additional Bartillon FAQ's can be found HERE.

August 22, 2023 Update
The latest progress floor plan from our Design Development stage can be found HERE.  We will be presenting this at the public information meetings in September and to the Urban Design Commission.

Sept. 01, 2023 Update
As part of the design process for the Bartillon Homeless Shelter, a geothermal test bore and thermal conductivity test was completed between early August and early Sept 2023. This is one of the first steps required when designing a geothermal system for larger commercial buildings and provides the design team accurate information about ground conditions. The accurate ground information from both the bore and the conductivity test allow the design team to size the geothermal system. The bore is ~6 inches in diameter and 500 feet deep. It is installed in both the upper and lower aquifer, but outside of Unit Well 15’s Wellhead Protection Zone. A HDPE U-bend pipe was inserted into the bore and the space around the pipe was filled with grout that seals the bore space completely. Testing equipment, running from a generator, was connected to the ends of the pipe at the surface for ~72 hours. This bore will be re-used when the full system is installed as part of the future construction project, which will be permitted by the WI Dept of Natural Resources (WDNR) with input from the Madison Water Utility. We anticipate about 40 of these bores to be installed with the future construction project.  The final report can be found at this LINK.

Sept. 28, 2023 Update
Baumann Consulting has completed energy modeling of the shelter facility and the report can be downloaded HERE. The energy model accounts for all systems and uses of the building and provides guidance on what can be improved. The facility is currently projected to use 48 kBtu/square-foot/year, which is ~25% better than a code minimum facility. In dollars this is $1.60/yr combined gas and electric or ~$67,000/yr. Some of this utility expense (~$22,000 or ~33%) will be offset with a ~200 kW solar PV system installed with the project. As a point of comparison to a similar city facility type, a Fire Station, that has kitchen, sleeping and offices, uses between 20-60 kBtu/square-foot/year.

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: Feb. 01, 2024
Bid Due Date: March 14, 2024
Construction Start Date: Q2 2024
Expected Completion Date: Q4 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

Sept. 27, 2023 Public Information Meeting Recording
Sept. 13th, 20th, 21st & 27th, 2023 Public Information Meeting PowerPoint Presentation
Sept. 13, 2023 Public Information Meeting Recording

May 17, 2023 Public Information Meeting PowerPoint Presentation

May 11, 2023 Public Information Meeting PowerPoint Presentation

May 9, 2023 Public Information Meeting Recording

March 29, 2023 Northeast Area Plan Open House

Apr. 18, 2022 Neighborhood Virtual Meeting Recording

City Process Meetings

April 25, 2023 Common Council Legistar #77248
Authorizing the City’s execution of a Purchase and Sale Agreement between the City of Madison and McDonald’s USA, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company or their successors and assigns, for the purchase of the property located at 3709 Kinsman Blvd in the City of Madison to provide the City with both short and long-term options for uses that are compatible with the planned construction at the adjacent property of a facility to provide shelter services for men experiencing homelessness

Oct. 11, 2022 Common Council File #73502
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.

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

Get Involved: City’s First Purpose-Built Shelter Engagement Process Kicks Off

City Looks To Buy Shuttered McDonalds Next To Future Permanent Men’s Shelter

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

Some alderpersons say mayor excluded them from homeless shelter location discussion

Get it done to help the homeless in Madison

Local government officials announce location for permanent men’s homeless shelter

Alders insist they support homeless shelter site, but continue to voice concern over mayor’s process

Alders ask Madison mayor to improve communication with plans to build men’s shelter

Rhodes-Conway, Parisi unveil initial plan for new men's homeless shelter

Two city alders accuse Madison mayor of ‘cutting them out’ of men’s homeless shelter process

Satya’s Plan For Homeless Shelter Location Could Face Hurdles

Madison, Dane County pick permanent men’s homeless shelter site

Madison, Dane County pick permanent homeless men's shelter site on Far East Side

City and County Announce Location of Permanent Men’s Shelter

'This is the missing piece': Madison, Dane County pick site for men's homeless shelter

‘We don’t have anything like it’: Madison announces plans for purpose-built men’s homeless shelter

Madison, Dane Co. reveal spot for new men’s homeless shelter

Bartillon Drive Training Burn A Chance To Practice Key Firefighting Skills

Madison Common Council votes to buy 2 properties for possible homeless shelters

Madison's Common Council approves purchase of two buildings to help support homeless population

Madison Finance Committee recommends buying two properties for homeless services

Finance Committee passes resolutions to move forward with two east side homeless shelter locations

City again seeks to buy building near East Towne Mall for homeless men's shelter

City council to discuss proposals to purchase properties for homeless shelters