The Madison Vocational School is situated one block northwest of the Capitol Square, and one block north of State Street, in the heart of Madison’s traditional commercial district. Madison Vocational School was erected in three phases: the four-story, Collegiate Gothic original section, designed by Madison architect Ferdinand Kronenberg and built in 1921; and the simpler addition, designed by Law, Law, Potter and Nystrom of Madison and constructed in 1949-1950 (four stories) and expanded in 1964 (fifth and sixth stories).

The Wisconsin legislature adopted the Continuation School Act in 1911, to enable the establishment of educational opportunities for employed youth who had not finished high school. Madison Continuation School opened in 1912, offering courses not only in trade subjects, but also in literature, math, social sciences and the arts, and helping to fulfill a primary goal of public education: training for good citizenship. Renamed Madison Vocational School in 1916, the institution moved into the building that is the subject of this summary in 1921, and continued to serve the community on this site since through at least 2018. The school has and does serve the needs of the community and students, as well as those of workforce demands, as guided by input from employers, civic leaders, and the students themselves. Curriculum and program offerings have been adapted over time to reflect and accommodate changes in technology, and society, as well as landmark events, such as World War II. This institution was renamed Madison Area Technical College (MATC) in 1967, shortened to Madison College in 2009.