Energy Efficiency Takes the Stage at the Madison Youth Arts Center

Children in the Madison area who are passionate about the arts (theater, choir, orchestra, dance, and visual arts) call the Madison Youth Arts Center (MYArts) “home.” The one-year-old MYArts Center houses more than 25 youth art organizations, is the home base for the Children’s Theater of Madison and Madison Youth Choirs, and is a shining example of designing commercial new construction with energy efficiency in mind from the very beginning.

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The $35 million, 65,000 square-foot building provides:

• 15 rehearsal studios and classrooms from 600 square feet to 2,000 square feet, designed for music, theater, and dance, including a sensory-friendly studio.
• A 300-seat theater.
• A flexible performance studio seating up to 125.
• Community space on each floor.
• Visual art gallery space.
• Costume and production shops.
• Shared office space for anchor and community partners.
• Two large outdoor patios providing gathering, program, and event spaces.

The Madison Youth Arts Center team learned of FOCUS ON ENERGY® incentives from their architectural firm, Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA). Focus on Energy Advisor Dorene Schink guided the project team through Energy Design Assistance (EDA), which is available for projects still in the design phase. Through EDA, Focus on Energy provides a whole-building energy analysis to help property owners better understand their energy efficiency options and how their choices impact their building’s long-term energy costs.

EUA, a Focus on Energy Trade Ally, said architects at the firm have been creating this facility in their imaginations for 20 years. They began designing the building project in 2018. Their imagination became reality in 2021.

As a partner with the MyArts Center utility, Madison Gas and Electric, and Focus on Energy provided more than $29,000 in incentives for the energy-efficient measures installed:

• Variable air volume (VAV) system to optimize the amount and temperature of distributed air.
• High efficiency condensing boiler with temperature reset to provide more efficient space heating.
• Displacement ventilation to deliver air at floor level and return air above the occupied zone.
• Demand control ventilation to reduce the outside air during times of partial occupancy.
• Reduced lighting power density resulting in a 20% watts per square-foot reduction compared to similar buildings.

Installing these energy-efficient products provides the MYArts Center an estimated $24,790 in energy savings each year.

“Several families chose to have their children attend classes here, knowing our HVAC system was the best it could be given pandemic considerations,” said Byelich. “We have the ability to control our HVAC system with a high degree of specificity and have learned to schedule each floor and each room to be on and off to maximize efficiency in the space.”

The variable air volume HVAC system was one of the most noticeable energy efficiency strategies.

"From a CTM staff perspective, many have commented on how nice it is to have a stable air system,” said Allen Ebert, Executive Director of Children's Theater of Madison. “In our other place it was very hard to keep a consistent temperature."

“We are focused on youth, which means we're focused on the future,” said Courtney Byelich, the MYArts Director of Facilities. “Energy efficiency is an essential component to being a good steward of our community and our planet’s limited resources. Through training youth in the arts, we are planting seeds for a future where people are connected to their humanity, practice empathy and listening, and are responsible global citizens.”

The $35 million, 65,000-square-foot-building, which is also a housing and retail development, provides:

• 15 rehearsal studios and classrooms from 600 square feet to 2,000 square feet, designed for music, theater, and dance, including a sensory-friendly studio.
• A 300-seat theater.
• A flexible performance studio seating up to 125.
• Community space on each floor.
• Visual art gallery space.
• Costume and production shops.
• Shared office space for anchor and community partners.
• Two large outdoor patios providing gathering, program, and event spaces.