New event venue boasts beauty and sustainability

Nestled among eight acres of wooded space about five minutes from downtown Madison sits a new event venue that is as sustainable as it is beautiful. 
 

Barnwood Events is a Douglas Fir timber-framed building with 33-foot-tall ceilings. The 80-foot by 80-foot barn has capacity for up to 300 people. The space includes a four-season porch, meeting suite, caterer’s kitchen and a 35-foot bar.
 

“Rustic, elegant finishes combine with the latest technology for operating and energy efficiency to create this unique space,” said Dave Wood, who developed, owns and operates the venue along with his wife, Julie Wood.

 

Construction of the venue began in 2020 along with the spread of COVID-19. Designing a safe event space was top of mind for the Woods. The couple decided to focus additional resources on air quality by collaborating with a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractor. Improved air-quality investments were centered on three key approaches: increased outdoor air, enhanced air-filtration systems and cutting-edge air-cleaning technology. The Woods continue to work closely with their HVAC contractor to balance energy efficiency with improved air quality within the venue. 

 

Additionally, the venue walls are manufactured panels that have two exterior faces of orient strand board encasing a core of foam insulation, making them very energy efficient. They also provide added insulation from outdoor noise and wind.

 

Additional energy-saving features include:

Committed to continued energy savings, Barnwood recently joined MGE’s On Demand Savings (ODS) program. ODS helps business customers achieve savings by reducing energy use, especially in summer months when electric use peaks across the region. With ODS, MGE's electric meters interface with Barnwood’s energy management system. 

 

“ODS is a great fit for every business customer,” explained Ryan Minor, Senior Account Representative - Commercial and Industrial Marketing. “ODS gives customers a window into their energy use in real time, providing the tools needed to react to energy trends. With this program, Barnwood may be able to identify energy-saving adjustments they can make to control their use and reduce costs during on-peak times.”

Step outside Barnwood and you will notice open green space, ponds and a variety of trees. Sustainability is evident here too—from environmentally friendly actions to electric vehicle (EV) charging.

 

A portion of the Capital City Bike Trail lines a picturesque nature conservancy, making the beauty of the outdoor space rival the beauty of the design and workmanship inside the facility. Since 2005, the Woods have planted more than 22,000 native trees in the conservancy. These surrounding lands are registered with the State of Wisconsin and DNR Stewardship Wildlife Restoration Program.

 

The Woods installed a fire-suppression system that protects more than the building itself. In the event of a fire, a special water tank holds 15,000 gallons of water to provide necessary water suppression without damaging the local aquifer. 

 

While building permits require a water retention basin for sufficient aquifer recharge, the Woods went above and beyond to add native plants in the retention pond, allowing biodiversity to thrive.

 

Eight EV charging stations are installed in the 170-car parking lot. These dedicated EV parking stalls provide guests with access to level 2 charging, which can charge a vehicle with 20 to 30 miles of range per hour. 

 

“Since 2008, we have driven hybrid vehicles, and today I drive an EV,” Dave said. “Being green is important to our family, so in planning Barnwood, we wanted to offer free charging for guests. We chose charging technology that is geared at the new wave of mainstream automaker EVs.”

 

“This June will mark three years since we decided to move forward with Barnwood Events,” Dave said. “It was a journey building and opening the facility during a pandemic. We look forward to offering our unique space for weddings, family celebrations and corporate events.” 

Learn more about Barnwood Events by visiting barnwoodeventswi.com.