Tony Timm can smile on the winter of 2012.

Mild temperatures have allowed construction workers to raise the prefabricated walls and work toward completion in September of the Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) housing complex and headquarters at 1420 Mulberry St., just south of the organization’s current building.

“We’re just plugging right along,” said Timm, CISS executive director. “It’s been a mild winter, and we’re doing great.”

The 40,000-square-foot structure will offer expanded services, including education, health care, a clothing closet, a food pantry and a large garden.

It will house 207 people 24 hours a day, a change from current operating procedure, in which residents have to leave the premises during the day.

“They can spend the day focused on our programs,” Timm said.

The first floor will provide housing for 50 women and 100 men. The second floor will have 38 efficiency apartments that can be leased for one year, and the third floor will provide housing for up to two years for 19 veterans under a transitional program.

The building will have geothermal heating and cooling.

“Other than that, it’s pretty standard stuff,” Timm said.

Neumann Bros. Inc. is the general contractor on the building, which was designed by Architects Smith Metzger.

Timm said the organization is attempting to raise the final $700,000 of a $15 million capital campaign that was spearheaded by businessman Jim Cownie.

“We continue to knock on doors and ask folks for their support, and we’re seeing some positive results,” he said.

CISS also will be in need of additional volunteers to help with the garden, clothing closet and food pantry, Timm said. The current shelter at 205 15th St. is for sale.