Monona Terrace

{{Short description|Convention center in Madison, Wisconsin}}

{{Short description|Convention center in Madison, Wisconsin}}

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}}

{{Infobox building

{{Infobox building

| name = Monona Terrace

| name = Monona Terrace

| image = MononaTerraceClose.jpg

| image = MononaTerraceClose.jpg

| image_size =

| image_size =

| image_caption = Madison skyline from [[Lake Monona]], with Monona Terrace in the middle

| image_caption = Madison skyline from [[Lake Monona]], with Monona Terrace in the middle

| coordinates = {{Coord|43|4|18|N|89|22|50|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates = {{Coord|43|4|18|N|89|22|50|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| architectural_style =

| architectural_style =

| address = 1 John Nolen Drive, [[Madison, Wisconsin]], U.S.

| address = 1 John Nolen Drive, [[Madison, Wisconsin]], U.S.

| groundbreaking_date = January 25, 1995

| groundbreaking_date = January 25, 1995

Monona Terrace was originally designed and proposed by [[Frank Lloyd Wright]] in 1938, but rejected by the [[Dane County, Wisconsin]] development board by one vote. Wright would continue to seek support for the plan and alter its design until his death in 1959. For the next four decades, various proposals for a convention center on the Monona Terrace land would be considered and rejected. Several times, it appeared that supporters of the project would be able to secure the public financing to complete the project, but various forces (such as the start of [[World War II]]) inevitably sidelined the plan.

Monona Terrace was originally designed and proposed by [[Frank Lloyd Wright]] in 1938, but rejected by the [[Dane County, Wisconsin]] development board by one vote. Wright would continue to seek support for the plan and alter its design until his death in 1959. For the next four decades, various proposals for a convention center on the Monona Terrace land would be considered and rejected. Several times, it appeared that supporters of the project would be able to secure the public financing to complete the project, but various forces (such as the start of [[World War II]]) inevitably sidelined the plan.

In 1990, Madison mayor [[Paul Soglin]] resurrected Wright's proposal. Among the arguments against its construction, opponents argued that it was not a genuine Wright building, that the costs were too steep for the taxpayers to bear and that the construction would adversely affect the environment, specifically destroying the view of Lake Monona from street level on the south side of the Capitol Square.<ref name="mt1992">[[Milwaukee Sentinel]], [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nHxQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3RIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2307,2973502&dq=monona+terrace&hl=en Madison struggles with Wright choice for Center] 1992-08-12. Retrieved 2011-04-21.</ref><ref name="mt1992-2">[[Milwaukee Sentinel]], [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=znoWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8BIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4556,859607&dq=monona+terrace&hl=en Madison Votes Lean Toward Approval] 1992-11-04. Retrieved 2011-04-21.</ref> Additionally, the site of the land stands on historic Ho-Chunk Nation burial mounds.

In 1990, Madison mayor [[Paul Soglin]] resurrected Wright's proposal. Among the arguments against its construction, opponents argued that it was not a genuine Wright building, that the costs were too steep for the taxpayers to bear and that the construction would adversely affect the environment, specifically destroying the view of Lake Monona from street level on the south side of the Capitol Square.<ref name="mt1992">[[Milwaukee Sentinel]], [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nHxQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3RIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2307,2973502&dq=monona+terrace&hl=en Madison struggles with Wright choice for Center] August 12, 1992. Retrieved 2011-04-21.</ref><ref name="mt1992-2">[[Milwaukee Sentinel]], [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=znoWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8BIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4556,859607&dq=monona+terrace&hl=en Madison Votes Lean Toward Approval] November 4, 1992. Retrieved 2011-04-21.</ref> Additionally, the site of the land stands on historic Ho-Chunk Nation burial mounds.

The proposed construction was approved by a public referendum in 1992, and construction began on January 25, 1995.<ref name="beyond" /> The building was constructed by J.H. Findorff and Son Inc., a southern Wisconsin contractor. Although the exterior design is Wright's, the interior as executed was designed by former Wright apprentice Anthony Puttnam of [[Taliesin Associated Architects]]. Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center opened on July 18, 1997, nearly 60 years after the design was first proposed by Wright.<ref name="beyond" />

The proposed construction was approved by a public referendum in 1992, and construction began on January 25, 1995.<ref name="beyond" /> The building was constructed by J.H. Findorff and Son Inc., a southern Wisconsin contractor. Although the exterior design is Wright's, the interior as executed was designed by former Wright apprentice Anthony Puttnam of [[Taliesin Associated Architects]]. Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center opened on July 18, 1997, nearly 60 years after the design was first proposed by Wright.<ref name="beyond" />

Monona Terrace is located two blocks from the [[Wisconsin State Capitol|Wisconsin State Capitol building]] in downtown Madison. From the roof of Monona Terrace, one can see views of downtown Madison, including the Capitol and a panoramic view of Lake Monona.

Monona Terrace is located two blocks from the [[Wisconsin State Capitol|Wisconsin State Capitol building]] in downtown Madison. From the roof of Monona Terrace, one can see views of downtown Madison, including the Capitol and a panoramic view of Lake Monona.

The facility hosts over 600 conventions, meetings and weddings each year that result in an average of $52 million in economic activity for the region. Monona Terrace also runs free community programs that serve approximately 56,000 people each year. Monona Terrace also offers guided tours, a gift shop, a rooftop cafe (warm weather months only), and serves as the home for some of the community's events including the national radio variety show [[Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?|Michael Feldman's ''Whad'Ya Know?'']],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://current.org/2016/03/whadya-know-to-end-production-after-31-years/?wallit_nosession=1|title='Whad'Ya Know?' to end production after 31 years|work=Current|access-date=2018-03-03|language=en-US}}</ref> Dane Dances,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://isthmus.com/events/dane-dances-aug-25/|title=Dane Dances|date=2017-04-26|work=Isthmus {{!}} Madison, Wisconsin|access-date=2018-03-03|language=en-us}}</ref> [[Ironman Triathlon#North America|Ironman Wisconsin]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitmadison.com/sports/events/ironman-wisconsin/|title=IRONMAN® Wisconsin {{!}} Madison|website=www.visitmadison.com|language=en-us|access-date=2018-03-03}}</ref> and U.S. Bank Eve.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/entertainment/madison-s-family-friendly-nye-celebration-still-going-after-years/article_29af1b35-0305-5a9b-b6e9-efc3512d8948.html|title=Madison's family-friendly NYE celebration still going after 27 years|last=Journal|first=Samara Kalk Derby {{!}} Wisconsin State|work=madison.com|access-date=2018-03-03|language=en}}</ref>

The facility hosts over 600 conventions, meetings and weddings each year that result in an average of $52 million in economic activity for the region. Monona Terrace also runs free community programs that serve approximately 56,000 people each year. Monona Terrace also offers guided tours, a gift shop, a rooftop cafe (warm weather months only), and serves as the home for some of the community's events including the national radio variety show [[Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?|Michael Feldman's ''Whad'Ya Know?'']],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://current.org/2016/03/whadya-know-to-end-production-after-31-years/?wallit_nosession=1|title='Whad'Ya Know?' to end production after 31 years|work=Current|access-date=March 3, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Dane Dances,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://isthmus.com/events/dane-dances-aug-25/|title=Dane Dances|date=April 26, 2017|work=Isthmus {{!}} Madison, Wisconsin|access-date=March 3, 2018|language=en-us}}</ref> [[Ironman Triathlon#North America|Ironman Wisconsin]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitmadison.com/sports/events/ironman-wisconsin/|title=IRONMAN® Wisconsin {{!}} Madison|website=www.visitmadison.com|language=en-us|access-date=March 3, 2018}}</ref> and US Bank Eve.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/wsj/entertainment/madison-s-family-friendly-nye-celebration-still-going-after-years/article_29af1b35-0305-5a9b-b6e9-efc3512d8948.html|title=Madison's family-friendly NYE celebration still going after 27 years|last=Journal|first=Samara Kalk Derby {{!}} Wisconsin State|work=madison.com|access-date=March 3, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

==Gallery==

==Gallery==

==External links==

==External links==

{{Commons category}}

{{Commons category}}

*{{Official website|http://www.mononaterrace.com }}

* {{Official website|http://www.mononaterrace.com }}

*[http://www.glen.co.nz/?/articles/70-Monona-Terrace-entrance-in-HDR.html Photographed in HDR]

* [http://www.glen.co.nz/?/articles/70-Monona-Terrace-entrance-in-HDR.html Photographed in HDR]

{{Frank Lloyd Wright}}

{{Frank Lloyd Wright}}