Join AIA Southwest WI in touring the Bartillon Men's Shelter

Cities have begun recognizing that homelessness is not just a housing issue; it is also a public health issue. The Bartillon Shelter represents a first-of-its-kind initiative for the City of Madison – a purpose-built, permanent men’s shelter designed to provide dignified, supportive housing for up to 250 residents.

During this tour, we will discuss how the City of Madison, in collaboration with Dane County, consulted with architect Dimension IV Madison Design Group to deliver this two-story, 40,000 sq/ft civic facility that utilizes sustainable mass timber construction. With nearly 800 cubic meters of Southern Yellow Pine mass timber, Bartillon Shelter represents one of Wisconsin’s most substantial civic applications of CLT and glulam to date, marking a shift toward biophilic, low-carbon design in public infrastructure. The team will discuss the use of trauma-informed design principles that create a sense of safety and belonging with integrated support services and accessible amenities. Through thoughtful material selections and flow of interior spaces, the shelter becomes not just a place to sleep, but a stabilizing environment.

The tour will also address how the facility was designed to achieve LEED Gold certification through integrating a high-performance building envelope, energy-efficient mechanical systems, and daylight and quality views, to name a few. These strategies enhance long- term operational efficiency and will directly impact occupant overall health.

Presenter: TBD, Dimension IV

Tour Reps: 

• Jon Evans with City of Madison – Engineering - Facilities Management Project Manager
• Maria Delestre with City of Madison - Engineering - Facilities Management Construction Manager

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize the planning and policy considerations that lead the City of Madison to develop purpose-built shelters operated through nonprofit partnerships;
• Explain how mass timber structural systems contribute to sustainability and occupant wellbeing;
• Describe the health and safety benefits of trauma-informed architectural design in shelter environments; and
• Identify design strategies used to achieve LEED Gold certification and how they directly impact occupant health and operational performance.

Submitted for AIA/CES Approval

HOSTED BY