MADISON, Wis.—Three Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) school buildings included in Phase 2 of the district’s 2024 facilities referendum – Akira R. Toki Middle School/Orchard Ridge Elementary School, Cherokee Heights Middle School and Ray F. Sennett Middle School – have received 4-Star Climate Champion recognition from Dane County for sustainable building design.

The three buildings received the highest level of recognition in the Dane County Climate Champions program’s Building Design category. Their all-electric designs feature geothermal heating and cooling and achieved a 15% reduction in embodied carbon through the design process.

“Building more sustainable schools is about making thoughtful investments that serve our students and community for generations,” said Scott Chehak, MMSD senior executive director of building services. “These projects give us an opportunity to create modern learning environments that are efficient, comfortable and built to serve students and staff well into the future. It’s exciting to see the work recognized even before construction begins.”

The three projects are part of Phase 2 of MMSD’s 2024 facilities referendum, which was approved by voters to support major improvements to school facilities. Phase 1 buildings – Samuel Gompers Elementary School/Black Hawk Middle School and Sherman Middle School/Malcolm Shabazz City High School – also received 4-Star ratings in the Building Design category of the Climate Champions program in 2025, and are currently under construction.

“Sustainability has informed the design of these schools from the outset,” said Bryanna Krekeler, MMSD sustainability manager. “The 4-Star recognition is a great acknowledgment of that work and the thoughtful planning that has gone into these projects.”

Both Sennett and Cherokee Heights are set to break ground next month, with Toki/Orchard Ridge to follow in the early spring of 2027.

These projects represent a significant next step in MMSD’s work to provide school facilities while incorporating sustainable design practices. For more information about the district’s facilities referendum projects, please visit the MMSD website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that MMSD will be a learning community where all students are valued, challenged, supported and inspired to reach their dreams. With more than 7,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.