Kraus-Anderson completes $21 million renovation to the middle and high school in Ladysmith, Wis.

LADYSMITH, Wis. (June 2024) – The Madison office of Kraus-Anderson (KA) has completed a $21 renovation to the middle and high school in Ladysmith, Wis., located at 1700 Edgewood Ave. East.

Designed by Bray Architects, the 150,000-square-foot project at the combined school features a 10,131-square-foot gym addition with a connecting corridor to the existing school, a new 1,000- bleacher-seat grandstand, press box and 40 additional parking spaces.  The project also contains a new patio, media center, classroom improvements, and 46,129 square feet of renovations including building systems replacements, safety and security upgrades, roof replacements and ADA improvements.

Construction began in March of 2023.

KA continues to lead the field of regional education construction projects and is currently ranked 20th in the nation in the construction of K-12 facilities by Building Design and Construction magazine.  Over the past five years, KA has completed over $1 billion in K-12 projects. KA’s comprehensive school construction services include facility analysis and budget approaches, leading to informed and successful referendum initiatives. 

About Kraus-Anderson Companies

Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson (www.krausanderson.com) is an integrated construction management and real estate development enterprise working independently and in collaboration with a family of companies and services, including facilities assessment, K-12 pre-referendum planning, strategic facility planning, sustainability and insurance operations. Kraus-Anderson, an EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., Fargo and Bismarck, N.D., Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn. and Phoenix, Ariz.

###

Madison Reading Project: READ(y) to Wear Set for June 12 at The Sylvee

May 28, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information:

Rowan Childs, (608) 347-7970, Rowan@madisonreadingproject.com

Haley Borgrud (920) 723-7665, Haley@madisonreadingproject.com

MADISON – Madison Reading Project is thrilled to announce READ(y) to Wear, Madison’s most memorable costume design competition supporting local literacy, takes the stage Wednesday, June 12, at The Sylvee. 

The annual paper dress/fashion design competition honors this year’s theme, “Dress for your Adventure.” Design teams of students, businesses, artists, and local nonprofits will create and strut their paper fashions under The Sylvee spotlights, with a nod to the reality TV show “Project Runway.” Expect original designs incorporating all kinds of paper materials. You will be amazed!

DJ Four7 Travis Beckum spins fresh beats while you vote on contestants and bid on  silent auction items. Just like the theme, attendees can pick their adventure before the show opens at seven by visiting each taste, scent, and paper station before the fashion adventure begins. 

Eighteen teams will take to the runway with fans enthusiastically cheering as they lobby for votes by the celebrity judges for their favorites and best-in-show bragging rights.

Man about town Jason Ilstrup, president of Downtown Madison Inc., and nationally honored drag queen Bianca Lynn Breeze join Madison Reading Project’s executive director Rowan Childs as emcees and spirited sideline fashion commentators. 

Celebrity judges are artists, designers, and fashion-forward community leaders from Madison and Milwaukee: Doris Williams, Micheal Veliquette, Julie VonDerVellen, Darrell “DJ” Lynn Hines II, Jeff Mack, and Joe Maldonado.

“READ(y) to Wear is certainly a memorable, one-of-a-kind fundraising event,” says Rowan Childs, Madison Reading Project. “The design class has been working hard all spring to wow you with their paper designs and talent. You’ll be wowed and dazzled. Come ready to expect the unexpected! Funds raised will allow us to continue to provide another 100,000 free, high-quality books and literacy resources to kids and educators in the Dane County area.”

Madison Reading Project engages with more than 200 area partners, connecting the community with free books and literacy resources to ignite a love for reading and affirm and reflect the diversity of young readers. Earlier this month, it launched its ADA-compliant Big Red Reading Bus, complete with a wheelchair lift. 

READ(y) to Wear tickets sell quickly with limited quantities. Order at madisonreadingproject.com General admission ticket $125. Doors open at 6 p.m.

More info: https://www.madisonreadingproject.com/readytowear2024

—30—

Wisconsin Union: Lineup of Free Madison Jazz Festival Events, Including World-Renowned Headliners, Will Come to the Terrace June 15-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2024

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Public Relations and Communications Officer, Wisconsin Union
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/2024-madison-jazz-festival

LINEUP OF FREE MADISON JAZZ FESTIVAL EVENTS, INCLUDING WORLD-RENOWNED HEADLINERS, WILL COME TO THE TERRACE JUNE 15-16

MADISON – The annual tradition, the Madison Jazz Festival, will return to the outdoor dining and entertainment destination the Memorial Union Terrace June 15-16 with free jazz performances presented by the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) and the Arts + Literature Laboratory.

The Madison Jazz Festival at the Terrace will feature headliners the Orrin Evans Quartet on June 15 and the Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet: “We Exist!” on June 16. Seating for Madison Jazz Fest shows at the Terrace is available on a first-come, first-served basis. During inclement weather, Madison Jazz Festival events scheduled to take place at the Terrace will move to Shannon Hall in the nearby building Memorial Union, when possible.

The full Jazz Fest lineup at the Terrace includes:

• June 15:
  • 1-2 p.m. – Madison Jazz Fest High School All Stars
  • 3-4:30 p.m. – Gerri DiMaggio and Friends featuring Peter Dominguez
  • 5-6:15 p.m. – Heirloom
  • 7-8:30 p.m. – Orrin Evans Quartet
  • 9-10:30 p.m. – “¡Azucar! A celebration Honoring Celia Cruz,” featuring Betty Guerrero y La Combi
• June 16:
  • 1-2:15 p.m. – A.S.T.R.O.
  • 3-4:15 p.m. – John Christensen Quartet with Russ Johnson
  • 5-6:15 p.m. – Pawan Benjamin Trio with Javier Santiago and Jeremiah Collier
  • 7-8:30 p.m. – Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet: “We Exist!”

            “We are excited for the return of this quintessential Madison summertime event and even more excited that all the Terrace performances, even the headliners, will be free of charge,” WUT Director Elizabeth Snodgrass said. “The Madison Jazz Festival and the Memorial Union Terrace are two of Madison’s best ways to gather in community, and Madisonians will get to celebrate both Wisconsin-based and internationally-renowned jazz musicians all in the same place and for free.”

GRAMMY-nominated jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader Orrin Evans will lead the Orrin Evans Quartet during its free June 15 performance and has been a leader in jazz innovation throughout his three-decades-long career. He has become known for infusing other genres into jazz, such as blues and soul. In addition to Evans, the ensemble includes drummer Justin Faulkner, bassist Vicente Archer and saxophonist Caleb Wheeler Curtis.

            “I go head-first for a lot of things,” Evans has said. “I like to stretch out. Wherever the music takes me, I’m going there.”

GRAMMY and Tony Award-winning vocalist, musical theater star and producer Dee Dee Bridgewater will conclude the festival with the Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet on June 16 at the Terrace. Bridgewater’s “We Exist!” tour focuses on the struggles women have faced and the successes women have achieved through their talent. Bridgewater earned her Tony for her work playing Glinda in “The Wiz.” The jazz songstress enjoys re-envisioning jazz classics. Her mentors have included Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins and Betty Carter.

“I hope that I will be exploring things until I don’t have the voice, or until my body gives out, or until they both give out, or until I just leave this Earth,” said Bridgewater in an interview with Morgan Enos of GRAMMY.com.

In addition to the free events at the Terrace June 15-16, other Madison Jazz Festival free and ticketed events will occur throughout Madison June 7-14, including performances by Raul Midón on June 8 and Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo “El Arte Del Bolero” on June 10.

The WUT team recently announced its 2024-2025 season of what’s next now — the Theater’s new tag line — with up-and-coming musicians, vocalists and dancers as well as renowned artists in performing arts. The lineup includes the Theater’s annual cornerstone series in jazz and classical as well as the new Black Box Sessions featuring hip-hop music. The 2024-2025 season also includes two theatrical productions as well as the return of Japanese Taiko drumming. Current subscribers can renew now; general public sales for subscriptions and single tickets start on May 28.

Patrons can support future Wisconsin Union Theater and Wisconsin Union events as well as student leadership opportunities by making purchases at the Memorial Union Terrace, the Memorial Union, Union South, Wisconsin Union markets and cafes, and TerraceStore.union.wisc.edu. Supporters can also make events like this and performing arts student leadership roles possible by giving tax-deductible donations here.

Patrons can visit union.wisc.edu/madison-jazz-festival for the WUT-hosted Madison Jazz Festival lineup and details about the WUT-hosted festival events. Details about the rest of the Jazz Festival events can be found at madisonjazzfestivalwi.org.

-###-

About the Wisconsin Union Theater

For more than 80 years, the Wisconsin Union Theater (WUT) has served as a center for cultural activity in the heart of the University of Wisconsin–Madison campus. WUT presents an annual season of performing arts and hosts hundreds of rental events in Shannon Hall and the Play Circle in Memorial Union. WUT has an extensive history of presenting world-renowned musicians, dancers, actors, and speakers and strives to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive place for all. WUT is part of the Wisconsin Union, a membership organization that blends study and leisure to create unique out-of-classroom opportunities. Learn more: union.wisc.edu/wisconsin-union-theater.

Backflip Creative Marketing experiments with commercial advertising in a Backflippy way!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Backflip Creative Marketing Experiments with Commercial Advertising in a Backflippy Way!

Madison, WI – May 17, 2024 – Backflip, a trailblazer in creative marketing and video production, is thrilled to announce its latest venture into commercial advertising. With a distinctive approach that blends creativity, strategy, and a touch of ‘Backflippy’ magic, Backflip is stepping into the landscape of broadcast TV advertising for one of its toughest clients: itself.

Our recent “Sell More, Better” TV commercial is a testament to our commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering exceptional results for our clients. This commercial is not just about selling a product; it’s about telling a story that resonates with audiences and drives meaningful engagement.

A fresh take on self-promotion

At Backflip, we believe that effective advertising is about more than just getting your message out there—it’s about making a lasting impression with something awesome. Our “Sell More, Better” commercial exemplifies this philosophy by combining top-notch cinematography, comedic narratives and performances, and the ever-useful tool: repetition. Also, we employed the use of repetition.

The Challenge of Marketing Ourselves

Creating a commercial for our own brand presented a unique set of challenges. As a marketing agency, we are often our own toughest critics. The task required us to step back and objectively view our brand through the eyes of our audience. It involved a deep introspection into what makes Backflip unique and how we can effectively communicate that to potential clients.

Our team tackled this challenge head-on, leveraging our collective expertise to produce a commercial that highlights our capabilities and captures the essence of who we are. Love it or hate it, you’ll absolutely remember it. The process was a valuable exercise in self-reflection and creativity, ultimately resulting in a product that makes us feel incredibly proud.

About Backflip

Backflip is a full-service creative marketing agency based in Madison, WI. We specialize in branding, video production, web design, and digital marketing, offering a holistic approach to help businesses grow and thrive in today’s competitive market.

We invite businesses looking to elevate their marketing efforts to join us in this exciting journey. Whether you’re a small business aiming to increase local visibility or a large corporation seeking to enhance your brand presence, Backflip has the expertise and creativity to help you succeed.

For more information about our services or to see our “Sell More, Better” TV commercial, visit our website at letsbackflip.com.

Wisconsin Union, Bucky’s Varsity Meats Debut New Beef Snack Sticks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2024

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Wisconsin Union Public Relations and Communications Officer
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/snacksticks

WISCONSIN UNION, BUCKY’S VARSITY MEATS DEBUT NEW BEEF SNACK STICKS

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union and Bucky’s Varsity Meats teams have developed and launched a brand-new product, called the Wisconsin Union Beef Snack Sticks, which supports hands-on student learning and leadership opportunities.

Customers can purchase the Wisconsin Union Beef Snack Sticks at the following Wisconsin Union dining locations: Badger Markets in Engineering, Ingraham, Memorial Union, and Union South; Capital Café in Grainger Hall; Carte in Memorial Union; the Chazen Café; and Sett Recreation in Union South.

The Wisconsin Union and Varsity Meats began a collaborative beef snack sticks development process in spring 2022. Together, they developed beef sticks that combine 100% Angus beef with the nutty, earthy, slightly sweet flavor of mustard seeds, the tanginess of ground mustard and the subtle sweetness of garlic. The recipe development process included the teams taste-testing several batches before arriving at the final flavor combination.

Bucky’s Varsity Meats crafts the beef sticks on campus with meat sourced from campus-run farms and local businesses.         

“Collaborating with Bucky’s Varsity Meats was the perfect opportunity to support meat science learning at UW–Madison by creating beef snack sticks that help fund animal and dairy sciences education and Wisconsin Union student leadership opportunities,” said Carl Korz, Wisconsin Union associate director for dining and hospitality services. “We’ve created a protein-packed, delicious way to power people’s days, which is locally made, from ingredients-sourcing to production. Production takes place less than two miles from all the Wisconsin Union Beef Snack Stick outlets.”

Wisconsin Union Beef Snack Stick purchases support the Wisconsin Union’s low-cost and free events and student leadership opportunities as well as the Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery program real-world learning opportunities.

-###-

About the Wisconsin Union

The non-profit Wisconsin Union strives to enhance and support student leadership and community engagement, including through recreational, cultural, educational and social opportunities and by providing world-class support services, such as in event management. The Wisconsin Union includes student leadership opportunities available through the Wisconsin Union Directorate, the Center for Leadership and Involvement, the Wisconsin Singers, the StudentPrint, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Wisconsin Homecoming Committee; Memorial Union; Union South; various dining options throughout downtown Madison; the University Club; UW Conferences & Events; and the Fluno Center. Learn more about the Union and its tradition of providing experiences for a lifetime: union.wisc.edu.

About Bucky’s Varsity Meats

Established in 2020, Bucky’s Varsity Meats is a full-service meat shop at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Varsity Meats is student-driven and committed to education and showcasing the variety of products and cuts produced at its facility, the Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery Building. It is an important part of the Meat Science and Animal Biologics Discovery program in the Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences at the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Learn more at varsitymeats.cals.wisc.edu.