Green Meetings

Going green for your meeting? You’ve come to the right place. Madison has been home to some of America’s greatest environmental pioneers: Aldo Leopold, John Muir, John Nolen and Gaylord Nelson.

Sustainability is at the heart of Madison’s infrastructure. In fact, the city was recognized by Destination Think’s 100 Travel innovations for its modernization initiatives that help decrease the carbon footprint of travelers, including a robust e-bike rental program to explore the platinum-rated bike-friendly city. 

What does that mean for you? You’ll meet in environment-friendly facilities that share your values and have access to plenty of sustainable ways for attendees to explore. Make a mark without leaving one. Go green in Madison.

MONONA TERRACE®

Frank Lloyd Wright design and LEED-certified? It's the perfect blend of style and sustainability. The Monona Terrace® Community & Convention Center not only meets LEED certification standards but exceeds them. Its water usage level is 43% below the LEED benchmark, and energy use comes in 27% below similar facilities across America. The center's rooftop gardens host over 6,800 square feet of native prairie plantings that not only set a beautiful ambiance, but also conserve water and attract critical pollinators.

ALLIANT ENERGY CENTER

The Alliant Energy Center was the largest organization in Madison to receive Travel Green Certification for its efforts to build sustainable tourism. Its abundant green space on Willow Island and environmentally friendly purchasing practices are distinct initiatives. The Alliant Energy Center also partnered with Johnson Controls to implement energy-saving measures in its Exhibition Hall. Measures include energy-efficient lighting and upgrades to reduce gas emissions.

UNIQUE VENUES

In Madison, WI, you’ll find an array of unique and eco-friendly venues for groups of all sizes looking to host unforgettable events:

• Madison Children's Museum — A national leader in promoting sustainable design and practices (and the only LEED Gold-certified museum in Wisconsin) bursting with creativity for hosting both large celebrations and intimate gatherings. The museum's green roof contains a variety of native plants, solar panels, rain barrels for water conservation, and even a flock of chickens!
• Friends of the Meeting House — A variety of unique spaces from classrooms that seat 15, to a state-of-the-art LEED certified auditorium that seats 450.
• Olbrich Botanical Gardens — A beautiful venue that inspires with three rooms inside a botanical center surrounded by stunning outdoor gardens.
• Overture Center for the Arts — An elegant venue with magnificent downtown views, recently named a climate champion for its water conservation practices.
• The Edgewater — A boutique hotel that houses several meeting and banquet spaces at the water's edge of Lake Mendota, perfectly walkable to downtown Madison and UW-Madison.
• Lussier Family Heritage Center — A verdant natural setting (native prairie, freshwater marsh, and oak savanna habitats on the rolling hills of glacial drumlin) perfect for hosting your next outdoor or environmental meeting.

Discover our full list of unique venues in Madison to host your next gathering, along with our curated list of the top unique meeting venues.

GREEN MEETINGS IN MADISON, WI

Destination Madison is proud to welcome environmental associations to Madison on an ongoing basis. Below is a sampling of the symposiums and conventions we've hosted here:

• Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
• Children and Nature Network
• Society for Conservation Biology
• North American Association for Environmental Education
• Society of American Foresters
• The Wildlife Society
• American Fisheries Society

GREEN CITY FACTS

Here in Madison, we're proud of the efforts our city is making toward sustainability. Below is a non-comprehensive list of some of Madison's green facts.

• Gold Rated for Walkability — Walk Friendly Communities
• Madison is ranked the #8 Greenest City in the U.S. by EcoCation (2024)
• More than 40 buildings, including the Dane County Regional Airport and the Monona Terrace, have earned LEED certifications.
• When in Madison, your meeting attendees are never more than a 10-minute walk from a park.
• Madison is ranked #2 in Mid-Sized U.S. Cities for Green Commuting by CommercialCafe (2024)