Bakers Place Project Tops Off as Madison's First Mass Timber High-Rise | 03.29.2024 BENEATH THE HARD HAT®
Madison welcomes its first mass timber high-rise. Bakers Place, a mixed-use development, celebrates its topping-off, showcasing sustainable construction with stunning luxury apartments and amenities for fostering a connected community and regenerative living experience.
Bakers Place Mass Timber Construction Project Update: Madison, Wisconsin | 03.29.2024 BENEATH THE HARD HAT®
Madison's landmark mass timber construction project, Bakers Place, approaches topping-out milestone as it rises in the city's skyline.
Mass Timber Sustainability in the News: The Neutral Project | 06.22.2023 BENEATH THE HARD HAT®
The Neutral Project, a sustainable real estate development company, is making news in mass timber in Madison and Milwaukee. Baker's Place (shown below) will be the first mass timber high-rise building in Madison, Wisconsin.
The Neutral Project is also planning a new mass timber residential development in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Edison (shown below) would be the second mass timber structure in Milwaukee and is poised to be the tallest hybrid mass timber tower in North America.
Bakers Place by The Neutral Project | YouTube 09.22.2023 THE NEUTRAL PROJECT
Bakers Place is an exciting mixed-use development in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. This innovative project combines the charm of a historic 1908 bakery with a modern 14-story mass timber building. It offers a prime location just steps away from the Wisconsin State Capitol.
The development includes a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom luxury apartments, totaling 164,707 square feet, and approximately 8,400 square feet of retail space. These apartments are designed with exposed mass timber, designer fixtures, and cutting-edge technology.
Bakers Place is not just about apartments; it's a community experience. It boasts a library, a coworking space, a fully-equipped fitness center with personal trainers and a Peloton studio, a dog park and grooming station, and an entertainment deck with a kitchen and an interactive game room. There's also a comfortable lounge for residents to relax in.
One of the most impressive aspects of this development is its eco-friendly design. Thanks to the use of mass timber construction, it achieves a remarkable 42% reduction in embodied carbon compared to traditional concrete buildings. Bakers Place is set to redefine luxury living in Madison, providing residents with top-notch amenities and a sustainable lifestyle in the heart of the city.
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INTRODUCTION
MADISON'S FIRST MASS TIMBER TOWER BREAKS GROUND
MGA is working with The Neutral Project and Angus-Young on Baker's Place - an exciting new mass timber residential development in Madison, Wisconsin.
The Neutral Project is a sustainability-focused development company with a goal to redefine conventional development of the built environment. They aim to reduce both embodied and operational carbon emissions in the building industry by creating highly sustainable multi-family and commercial developments.
MGA is an industry leader in mass timber and sustainable building materials and technologies. Dedicated to changing the construction industry, MGA has designed this project in collaboration with The Neutral Project and Angus Young, to create a building which represents the necessary and urgent shift in how we must approach our built environment - one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions on this planet. Our future homes must evolve to be flexible, sustainable, and healthy, using innovative materials, efficient construction methods, and thoughtful design.
BAKER'S PLACE
The Baker’s Place project in Madison, Wisconsin is a new 14-story mixed-use development constructed from mass-timber, creating 206 homes and preserving the oldest historic piece of the original Gardner Baking Co. Building. The project plans will respectfully develop the site, engaging with the existing heritage architecture and reinvigorating the neighbourhood with a stepped residential building that rises from 9-storeys to 14-storeys, surrounding an elevated landscaped courtyard. The project’s design is driven by a commitment to heritage, sustainability, innovation, and community.
Baker’s Place will be built using cross-laminated timber construction and Passive House design principles, reducing both embodied and operational carbon impacts and improving thermal and acoustic comfort. The project will be LEED certified and has an extensive network of green roofs to assist in supporting a progressive stormwater management strategy. An innovative Tesla ride-share program and a bike-share program has been proposed, which will support occupants in lowering their carbon footprints and living convenient and community-connected lifestyles.
The two-storey Gardner Baker Co. Building on the site was originally constructed in 1917, and the property was identified as a potential landmark in the 1998 Downtown Preservation Plan. The designs include saving and restoring the significant areas of this heritage building, and creating a new public mews between the new and old elements to highlight the history of the site, promote community and encourage activity.
FEATURES
PROJECT INFORMATION
LOCATION | Madison, Wisconsin
SIZE | 304,809 sq. ft.
HEIGHT | 14 storeys
HOMES | 206 units
SCHEDULE | Completion February 2025
MAJOR FUNCTION | Residential / Commercial
CONSTRUCTION | Mass timber - CLT / Heritage restoration
UNIT MIX | Studio to 3 bedroom units
PROJECT CREDITS
STAKEHOLDERS + PARTNERS
Owner | The Neutral Project
Project Designer | MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTURE
Architect | Angus-Young
Structural Engineer | Angus-Young
Structural Constultant (mass timber) | Equilibrium Consulting
Civil Engineer | Angus-Young
Landscape Architect | Angus-Young
Interior Designer | Angus-Young
Envelope Consultant | RDH Building Science Inc.
Fire Engineer | ARUP
Passive House Consultant | RDH Building Science Inc.
LEED Consultant | Rivion
LCA Consultant | Priopta
Graphic Design | RAD
General Contractor | C.D. Smith Construction
Acoustical Consultant | Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc.
Survey | JT Engineering
QUICK FACTS
Wood is the best principal material available for building structures when considering total energy use, carbon emissions and water usage.
Mass timber construction utilizes large solid panels of wood engineered for strength through laminations of layers. Baker's Place is using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels, which are layers of solid wood set at 90 degree orientations, they can range upwards of 64’0” x 8’0” (20m x 2.4m) and be of any thickness from a few inches to 16 inches or more.
These very large, very dense solid panels of wood are ideal for construction, meet or exceed all safety regulations, and provide a warm and healthy environment for living and working.
A Comparative Exploration Into Mass Timber and Conventional Construction Methods
(Feb. 23, 2024) The Neutral Project shared a case study that compares the environmental, economic, and scheduling performance of the mass timber-steel hybrid structure with other options like all mass timber, all steel, and post-tensioned concrete.
BAKERS PLACE CASE STUDY: Bakers Place is a mixed-use building project in Madison, Wisconsin, developed by The Neutral Project using a mass timber-steel hybrid structure.
OVERVIEW AND GOALS: The months-long analysis studied different structural framing materials applied to the same architecture for comparative exploration of mass timber and conventional construction methods and had four primary goals:
1. Evaluate and compare the performance of a mass timber-steel hybrid approach to mass timber, steel and concrete structural systems.
2. Quantify the sustainability of mass timber from an embodied carbon standpoint.
3. Assess the business case for a mass timber-steel hybrid commercial real estate development approach.
4. Improve familiarity with and awareness of mass timber construction with developers, design professionals, builders, city officials and agencies, civil government planning and zoning organizations, and community development groups.
CONSTRUCTION COMPARISONS: C.D. Smith produced a schedule of values for each proposed system that outlines the estimated costs per square foot and months required to construct each structure, according to a predefined list of consistent assumptions.
CASE STUDY TEAM: The case study was made possible through the Wood Innovations Grant program by the USDA Forest Service and funding support from the Softwood Lumber Board. Some of the top experts in mass timber planning, engineering and architectural design are represented among the case study team, including: EQUILIBRIUM, Priopta, Rivion, Arup, RDH Building Science, WoodWorks - Wood Products Council, Michael Green Architects, Angus & Young, C.D.Smith, and other esteemed industry organizations.
FINDINGS: The Bakers Place Case Study results illustrate the relative strengths and weaknesses of different design and construction approaches. You can download the complete case study and read it in its entirety by completing the form at theneutralproject.com/learn/bakers-place-case-study.
WHY IT MATTERS: Data on mass timber construction is limited, and the cost of such studies is typically prohibitive for individual projects. The Bakers Place Case Study by The Neutral Project provides insights into mass timber construction, aiming to guide developers and policymakers toward sustainable building practices.
Nate Helbach is a fresh face in Madison’s development scene with big ideas | ISTHMUS 02.01.2024
In the heart of Madison, Bakers Place rises as a beacon of innovation and the transformative power of mass timber. It's the first high-rise of its kind in the skyline - reshaping the urban landscape and propelling the city into a new era of sustainable living.
🌟 Innovating with Mass Timber
The 14-floor, 206-apartment development stands out as the largest mass timber project in Dane County. Bakers Place showcases developer Nate Helbach's and The Neutral Project's commitment to environmentally responsible building using sustainably sourced wood to reduce construction's carbon footprint.
🌿 Balancing Sustainability with Profit
Real estate economics aren't easy. Helbach acknowledged the challenge of balancing sustainability with profit during a hardhat tour. The Neutral Project had a net-zero, or neutral, goal for Bakers Place. Even though it wasn't achievable at this time, it serves as a beta test and represents a significant step towards that goal and the future of sustainable projects.
🏗 Building with Wood: Challenges and Future
Embracing mass timber comes with unique challenges. The Neutral Project addresses deforestation concerns through sustainable forestry and softwood use. Nate Helbach also highlights the need for streamlined approval processes and collaboration with city agencies to encourage wider adoption of wood in construction.
💪 The Uniqueness of Bakers Place
Bakers Place offers luxury apartments, a vibrant market with retail shops, and even a tenants-only entertainment space tucked away in the historic bakery building. But the real showstopper is the use of mass timber. This innovative material not only stores carbon but also offers health benefits. Studies have shown that people heal quicker, learn faster, and are more productive when surrounded by natural materials like wood.
🌎 Roots of Environmentalism
Helbach's commitment to the cause stems from a belief in Earth stewardship. He sees Bakers Place as a starting point, a way to showcase the viability of sustainable construction and inspire others to follow suit.
🤝 Partnering in Sustainable Innovation
The project team is crucial in bringing their expertise to constructing Bakers Place. As this project takes shape, it becomes a symbol of innovation, blending modern luxury with a resolute commitment to environmental responsibility.
📰 LEARN MORE: You can read the full Isthmus article at the following link 🔗: isthmus.com/news/cover-story/nate-helbach-is-a-fresh-face-in-madisons-development-scene/.
Pulse for the Week of September 18, 2023 | Engineering News-Record | Engineering News-Record 09.15.2023
Baker's Place - The Skyscraper Center Madison (WI) | Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) 02.2023
Bakers Place - Mass Timber WIN Project | Woodworks Innovation Network (WIN) 02.2023
Baker's Place | Michael Green Architecture (MGA) 02.2023
15-story 'mass timber' tower part of East Wash development | The Cap Times 02.21.2023
Unique, sustainable mass timber housing coming to Madison | NBC15 02.15.2023
$73.8M in construction financing secured for multifamily project in Madison | IB InBusiness Madison 01.12.2023
JLL Capital Markets Secures $73.8M in Construction Financing for Multifamily Project in Madison, Wisconsin | REBUSINESS ONLINE 01.11.2023
Pearlmark provides $21.2 million for development of 206-unit apartment development in Madison | REjournals 01.11.2023
Compass Properties JV Lands $74M for Wisconsin Project | Multi-Housing News (MHN) 01.04.2023
$73.8M in construction financing secured for Bakers Place in Madison | JLL 01.03.2023
Bank OZK and Pearlmark Provide $74M Construction Financing for Wisconsin Apartments | Commercial Observer 01.03.2023
Mass Timber Building “Baker’s Place” To Be Built On East Washington | WORT FM 08.10.2021
Ambitious mass timber project in Capitol East district clears first city approval | The Cap Times 07.01.2023
A new mass timber project proposed for Wisconsin | Forest Data Network 06.17.2021
Timber Project Proposed in Madison Incorporates Historic Building | Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) 06.15.2021
Michael Green Architecture reveals a mass timber tower in Madison, Wisconsin | The Architect's Newspaper 06.10.2021
Developers propose 15-story tower for still-booming East Washington Avenue | The Cap Times 03.17.2021
Plans in early stages for 15-story 'mass timber' development on East Washington | The Cap Times 03.12.2021
The Neutral Project's Press Release | 02.10.2023
(Madison, WI - February 10, 2023) - The Neutral Project a local developer with strong track records of sustainability – hosted the groundbreaking ceremony of Bakers Place on February 10th, 2023. Bakers Place will be Madison’s first mass timber high-rise building, utilizing an innovative hybrid structural approach. It includes a post-tension concrete podium, structural steel cores and columns, glue-laminated beams, and cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor system. According to the developer, Bakers Place challenges conventional real estate development methods and presents a new style of sustainable development strategy with mass timber as the cornerstone.
Bakers Place will include a unique, “mews” inspired retail and mixed-use area in a small, intimate alley that connects the old existing bakery building with the new mass timber tower. In addition to retail, tenants will have access to a library & co-working space, theater, wine lounge, outdoor kitchen, game room, yoga studio, strength and cardiovascular fitness center with access to personal trainers, rideshare, E-bike share, E-scooter share, 24-hour concierge, a community garden, on-site café, pet recreation area & grooming, and heated parking.
The eco-friendly building will also offer electric charging stations, low-flow fixtures, an energy recovery ventilation system, improved indoor air quality, high-efficiency appliances, and other materials that reduce carbon emissions. Tenants can use the building’s rideshare program to rent one of the onsite electric vehicles, electric bikes, or electric scooters. The building will feature multiple green roofs and a community garden designed to reduce air pollution, reduce energy use, provide natural habitats, and produce fresh vegetables for the residents. The building is anticipated to open in February 2025.
“We believe we can create a unique resident experience that adds to the vibrant Capitol East District corridor,” said Nate Helbach, Managing Partner for the Neutral Project. “The Bakers Place development has the potential to invigorate the neighborhood and set a new standard for future sustainable developments.”
The financing team includes Vario Equity, a Madison-based private equity firm that is providing lead funding for the development. According to Vario Equity Executive Managing Director Tyler Noel, the project will be funded by construction financing, mezzanine debt, and sponsor and investor equity.
“We are proud to partner with The Neutral Project to build Madison’s first mass timber building, which is not only environmentally friendly but also located in the heart of Madison’s isthmus corridor and just steps from the Capitol,” Noel said. “With all its amenities and its walkable access to restaurants, shops, lakes, and parks, we think Bakers Place will be a great place to call home.”
“Working with The Neutral Project was an easy decision--it’s a company that shares our passion and track record for sustainable building,” Noel added. “We really hope that Bakers Place is a catalyst for other mass timber and sustainable building projects throughout Madison.”
C.D. Smith is the general contractor for the project and has experience with large-scale, mass timber projects. The Fond du Lac-based firm served as the general contractor for what’s currently the world’s tallest mass timber building; Ascent, a 25-story, $125 million luxury high-rise in Milwaukee.
The design team for Bakers Place includes Vancouver-based Michael Green Architecture a renowned mass timber design architect, Madison-based Angus-Young Architects and Engineers, and Vancouver-based Equilibrium Consulting -- a structural consulting firm that has been at the forefront of mass timber innovation in large-scale construction for more than two decades. Other design consultants include ARUP Fire Code Engineer, RDH Building Science, Rad the Studio, and Rivion LEED consultants.
About Vario Equity
Vario Equity was formed in 2018 with a vision to create an alternative investment portfolio for accredited investors to complement traditional investments. By partnering with Compass Properties, Vario Equity has over 25 years of experience in Wisconsin real estate. Click here for more information.
About The Neutral Project
The Neutral Project is a sustainable real estate development company that pursues carbon-neutral, mixed-use, and multifamily development. The Neutral Project team has more than 20 years of experience in multifamily and mixed-use development. Click here for more information.
ABOUT
THE NEUTRAL PROJECT
The Neutral Project is a sustainable development company with a goal to redefine conventional development of the built environment, focusing on reducing both embodied and operational carbon emissions by building highly sustainable multi-family and commercial developments. The Neutral Project is guided by The Neutral Standard, which is an initiative to put our words into action by developing carbon-neutral mixed-use and multifamily buildings that reduce embodied carbon emissions and minimize operational carbon emissions. Our standard is rooted in building with mass timber, designing using passive house (Phius Certification) principles, and verifying our approach through a third-party life-cycle-analysis. Our company maxim is to leave this world a better place than we found it, and we believe that building to The Neutral Standard will facilitate our pursuit.
Carbon
The Neutral Standard allows for a significant decrease in operational and embodied carbon emissions through a two-pronged approach. First, by targeting passive house certification (Phius certification), the building commits to an extraordinary level of energy efficiency, reducing energy consumption by up to 70%. Second, by building with mass timber, the project will avoid a significant portion of embodied carbon emissions typical of ordinary construction. We will further avoid embodied emissions through a careful material selection of primary materials. Photovoltaics will further decrease carbon emissions through operations. Passive House certification requires a third-party performance verification process–ensuring performance benchmarks are met. Additionally, we take our commitment one step further by employing a life cycle assessment (LCA) throughout our design process to quantify and reduce our embodied carbon. This gives us the data we need to verify our goals are on track and to inform us on environmental impacts for future developments.
Water
Our commitment to water conservation takes a simple but proven approach. We will use low-flow fixtures and fittings throughout the building to minimize water consumption for human use. The project will be strategically landscaped with native and adaptive vegetation to minimize outdoor water needs. These strategies will in turn reduce stormwater and wastewater outflows from the property. Additionally, we further aim to incorporate as many site solutions to manage stormwater and naturally filter and recharge the local aquifer.
Livability
Buildings are for people. We believe that the built environment should encourage healthy living and blissful communal lifestyles. With this project we will aim to do both: First, by using innovations and design concepts within the WELL Building Standard and obtaining Passive House certification, both methods have proven to supply buildings with cleaner air and enhanced thermal and acoustic comfort. We also plan to incorporate green roofs to provide access to therapeutic and restorative natural relaxation spaces for occupants, exposed mass timber bringing warmth and texture to the interior of the building, and use natural, low- or no-VOC materials indoors wherever possible and provide improved indoor air quality. Second, we plan to incorporate dynamic operational and environmentally minded strategies to improve our resident experience and create a blissful communal lifestyle. The method we plan to employ was developed through considering elements of the WELL Building Standard, Fitness, Comfort, Mind, Nutrition, and Transportation.
Fitness
“Exercise not only changes your body, but it also changes your mind, your attitude, and your mood” - Anonymous. We plan to have a progressive and robust fitness center with access to personal trainers to allow our residents the ability to reactivate their physical and mental wellbeing.
Comfort
One’s home should be a place of comfort and tranquility. Our vision for this building is to reduce daily distractions by improving occupant ergonomic, olfactory, and thermal comfort to prevent stress and increase productivity.
Mind
Through our buildings’ tranquil and therapeutic green roofs and amenity spaces, residents and occupants will have an outlet to relax their minds or the ability to stimulate their minds through our extensive and refined library room.
Nutrition
We believe that nutrition is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. Principals from the Well Building Standard will play a key role in ensuring our residents and occupants have ease of access to healthy nutritional strategies.
Transportation
The shift towards green and active transportation options will be supported through ample EV charging, bike storage, and close proximity to rapid transit options. Further, a push for the reduction in single occupancy trips by residents will be encouraged through electric vehicle sharing, bike sharing, and a reduction in on-site parking (or adaptable parking strategies).
ABOUT
MGA
MGA | Michael Green Architecture is an architecture and design firm creating innovative, sustainable projects that push the boundaries of technology and construction to benefit communities and environments around the world.
Based in Vancouver, Canada, MGA was founded in 2012 by Michael Green, who now leads the studio alongside fellow Principal Natalie Telewiak. Their team of talented and experienced architects and designers is bound by a shared drive to create meaningful projects that contribute to a better future.
Leading the mass timber movement from its conception, MGA has completed some of the most significant timber buildings and large-scale sustainable developments ever built. They apply this rigour and technology to all their design projects, which range from cultural installations and private homes to residential masterplans and university campuses.
MGA has been recognized with over fifty international awards for design excellence, including the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Firm of the Year, Architizer’s Best in North America Firm Award in both 2021 and 2022, four Governor General’s Medals, two RAIC Innovation Awards and the American Institute of Architects Innovation Award.
Everyone at MGA believes that it is their responsibility to use their skills and imagination to create spaces, ideas, technology, and awareness that support the health and wellbeing of both people and planet.
SELECTED LINKS + RESOURCES
TED: Why We Should Build Wooden Skyscrapers - Talk (2013)
Design, Activism + Impact, Dezeen - Talk (2021)
Women Build with Natalie Telewiak - Podcast (2021)
The Architecture of Healing - Podcast (2021)
The Spaces: Mass Timber Buildings - Podcast (2021)
The Case for Tall Wood Buildings - Book (2012)
Tall Wood Buildings - Book (2017)
ABOUT
ANGUS-YOUNG
Angus-Young is a general practice design firm that delivers excellence in architectural, engineering, interior, and landscape design services.
Established in 1956, Angus-Young has more than 67 years of experience providing high quality design solutions, construction documentation, bid management, and construction services to their clients. They have two offices located in Madison, WI and Janesville, WI, serving clients throughout the continental United States.
A-Y projects are carried out by over 55 registered architects, engineers, interior designers, and administrative staff. These projects range in size and scope from design studies, to programming and planning, renovations, or new construction in a wide variety of markets.
Angus-Young approaches building design as a social process, highlighting the interaction between stakeholders, community members, and the design team. Team members will bring passion and thoughtfulness to the collaborative decision making process; listening intently, asking informed questions, and defining clear goals. This emphasis on communication enables the project team to craft unique designs that balance beauty, functionality, and budget.
Angus-Young strives to bring their clients visions to life by delivering experiences defined by excellence.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
EVA RAVENSTEIN
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
eva@mg-architecture.ca
MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTURE 1535 WEST 3RD AVE, VANCOUVER, BC CANADA, V6J 1J8
+1 (604) 336 4770
