Badger Rock Center is the first facility of its kind in the nation and will serve as a multigenerational neighborhood hub for socializing, learning, training, research, and healthy living, with a goal of revitalizing one of Madison’s underserved neighborhoods.
The Badger Rock Middle School is the focal point of the center. This charter school features project-based, hands-on learning and allows students to study food growth, science, energy and water use in a living laboratory learning environment.
In addition to the school, the project also features job training, intensive urban agriculture, a neighborhood center, and a mixture of service and commercial tenants. The project partners include Will Allen and Growing Power, The Center for Resilient Cities, Madison Gas & Electric, and the surrounding neighborhoods with support from Sustain Dane, Community Action Coalition, Community Groundworks, and Madison Area Community Land Trust.
Dimension IV-Madison is the Architect of Record for the project and the concept design was completed by Hoffman, LLC. The preliminary design for the Phase 2 addition has been completed and fund raising is underway. Phase 2 will expand the middle school by adding classrooms, offices, breakout rooms, and additional restrooms. The addition will also house the neighborhood and teen center, including a gymnasium with regulation high school basketball court, proscenium stage and additional garden areas and greenhouses.
Phase 1 was a Daily Reporter 2012 Top Project Winner.
Photography: Michael Kienitz