Madison, Wis. —  As demand for senior living options continues to grow in Dane County, Oakwood Village is adding significant capacity to meet the need. 

The nonprofit continuing care community, run by Oakwood Lutheran Senior Ministries, is increasing available independent living apartment homes with the addition of a five-story apartment building at its University Woods campus in Madison. This follows on the heels of a new skilled nursing facility in 2023 and additional independent living apartment homes in 2019 on the Prairie Ridge campus on Madison’s east side. 

The state of Wisconsin has estimated the county’s senior population will grow by about 50,000 from 2020 to 2050. Oakwood Village is almost completely at capacity and anticipates quickly filling the new apartment homes from a robust waiting list. Reservations opened in early November. 

“In this environment, standing still is not an option,” said Oakwood Village President and CEO Jan Hamilton-Crawford. “We are proactively finding solutions to meet the needs of Madison’s seniors and make sure they can thrive at any stage of life. These new apartment homes build on our other recent investments to be part of the solution.” 

The community plans to break ground on the new building in 2027, with construction taking 18-20 months. The structure will contain 92 apartment homes in two towers, situated over a heated, underground parking garage and an amenity-rich shared first floor. Apartment homes will range from about 1,000 square feet to 1,900 square feet, and offer a variety of floor plans and options for one or two bedrooms and a den. The design emphasizes a community feel, large windows and quick access to elevators, and the building will include gathering spaces and a fitness area. 

Oakwood Village is working with two longtime partners, project architect and interior designer Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA) and construction manager Vogel Bros. Building Co. 

“This project is especially meaningful to me personally, as I began my career with Vogel Bros. over 20 years ago working onsite at Oakwood,” said Jay Thomsen, a vice president at Vogel. “We’re incredibly proud to continue that partnership, which is about creating a space where seniors can thrive, strengthening the community and making a lasting difference in people’s lives.” 

Chris Leinss, living environments studio director and principal at EUA, said, “Throughout the design process, our goal has been to create a vibrant independent living community that reflects Oakwood’s commitment to resident choice, wellness, and connection while responding to the evolving expectations of the next generation of residents. We are grateful for the partnership with Oakwood and look forward to seeing this vision continue to take shape.” 

To learn more, visit oakwoodvillage.net/newchapter. 

About Oakwood Village Oakwood Village is a nonprofit, continuing care community with two campuses in Madison, Wisconsin, run by Oakwood Lutheran Senior Ministries. For over 75 years, this community has helped older adults lead lives of personal growth, happiness, health, and security.