Kraus-Anderson: Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County to begin construction on new $64.8 million hospital serving southwest Wisconsin

DARLINGTON, Wis. – (June 27, 2023) – Kraus-Anderson is about to begin construction on Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County (MHLC), a new $64.8 million replacement hospital and clinic building located on a 36-acre site at the intersection of WI State Hwy. 23 and County Hwy. K in Darlington, Wis.  As a critical access hospital, the current facility has served the greater community and provided a full range of acute care inpatient and outpatient services since 1952. 

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, July 15.  Keynote speakers will include U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, State Senator Howard Marklein and State Representative Todd Novak. The public is welcome to attend. 

Designed by Eppstein Uhen Architects (EUA), the 80,000-square-foot hospital will feature a new emergency department, diagnostic imaging, surgical services with two operating rooms, a procedure room, medical and surgical unit, pharmacy, rehabilitation, and a vision clinic with a retail eye shop.  The hospital will also include space for behavioral health and mindfulness sessions.  In addition to the hospital, the site will house a 3,600-square-foot stand-alone building that includes two residency units and a garage for maintenance storage.

Winston Churchill once said: “A hospital is a human invention and as such can be reinvented at any time.”  Kathy Kuepers, CEO of Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County, added: “We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us.  We have been working towards our reinvention for the last four years and are very excited for the future of healthcare in Lafayette County. Like a kaleidoscope the same beautiful pieces were maintained as we are morphed into this beautiful new vision for our healthcare campus.”

In 2022, MHLC completed the financing to build a new facility. The funds include a $30.8 million revenue bond and $15 million general obligation bond in direct loans from the USDA, and a $5 million guaranteed loan, all of which will be paid for by the proceeds of the hospital.  In addition, MHLC was awarded $14 million in additional grant funds.

“Memorial Hospital provides essential care for Southwest Wisconsin, serving Wisconsinites who otherwise would face long drive times to access critical health care. This new hospital is an investment in the health, well-being, and future prosperity of Lafayette County and the surrounding areas,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am proud to support the construction of this new hospital to give our health care professionals the facility they need to keep patients safe and healthy, help attract families and businesses to Southwestern Wisconsin, and connect more Wisconsinites to the high-quality health care they deserve, from preventative care to emergency services.”

Construction on the new hospital is expected to be completed in fall of 2024. The current facility will be in operation during construction.

About Kraus-Anderson

Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson (www.krausanderson.com) is one of the nation’s premier commercial general contractors and construction managers, which has been leading the charge in sustainable design and construction for the last 25 years. With deep experience in healthcare construction, the company is currently ranked 15th in the nation among the top health care general contractors in the U.S. by Modern Healthcare magazine. Kraus-Anderson, an EEO/AA employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wis., Bismarck, N.D., and Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn.

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Wisconsin Union: 2023 Summer Paddling Experiences Have Begun at Lakeside Outdoor UW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2023

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/outdooruw-2023

2023 SUMMER PADDLING EXPERIENCES HAVE BEGUN AT LAKESIDE OUTDOOR UW

MADISON – The Outdoor UW team has launched its summertime experiences in downtown Madison, including new services and events.

The Wisconsin Union’s outlet to the outdoors, Outdoor UW, has begun offering its traditional summer paddling rentals, including single and tandem kayaks, canoes, one-person and eight-person stand-up paddleboards; event traditions, such as Family Nights on Lake Mendota and yoga classes in partnership with University Recreation and Wellbeing; and storage of privately owned kayaks and canoes. 

New to Outdoor UW’s offerings are hiking trips that end with beverages at the outdoor entertainment and dining destination the Memorial Union Terrace; paddling lessons; paddling excursions to Picnic Point, a peninsula along Lake Mendota’s shore; custom outdoor learning opportunities; rentals of a 6-foot by 9-foot floating swim pad; and rentals of new sleeping bags that aim to keep people warm when temperatures drop down as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Patrons can register for scheduled events and reserve outdoor recreation equipment online, by phone at (608) 262-1630, or by email. Patrons can also call or email the Outdoor UW team to discuss scheduling a private outdoor recreation event or creating custom private outdoor experiences for their family, friends or team.

The team also expanded its Lake Mendota-facing live music event series, called Lakefront Live, which it presents in collaboration with the student-led Wisconsin Union Directorate Music Committee.

The Outdoor UW team offers year-round camping, hiking and climbing equipment rentals as well as outdoor learning and exploration opportunities. Its wintertime services include snowshoes and ice skates rentals as well as seasonal events.

“Whether someone is an avid outdoors person or is just starting to dip their toes into outdoor recreation experiences, we are ready to be their outlet to the outdoors,” Outdoor UW Director Dave Elsmo said.

The Wisconsin Union has a decades-long tradition of providing outdoor recreation experiences to community members and visitors, such as through six outdoor recreation clubs that make up an organization called the Wisconsin Hoofers, including the Hoofer Sailing Club, which provides access to sailing lessons on Lake Mendota. Headquartered at Outdoor UW and advised by the Outdoor UW team, all 18 and over can join the Wisconsin Hoofers and become part of a community of outdoor enthusiasts of every experience level.

Those who would like to learn more about how to explore the outdoors through Outdoor UW can visit union.wisc.edu/outdooruw.

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About Outdoor UW

Outdoor UW is the Wisconsin Union’s outlet to the outdoors, offering everything from outdoor recreation equipment rentals to custom group outdoors experiences. The Outdoor UW team also advises six outdoors clubs, which make up the Wisconsin Hoofers, and Hoofer Council, the governing body of the Hoofers. Outdoor UW is part of the Wisconsin Union, which is the UW–Madison Division of Social Education. Learn more about Outdoor UW: union.wisc.edu/outdooruw.

Wisconsin Union: A Rainbow of Terrace Chairs Will Makes a Limited-Time Appearance at Memorial Union on June 21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2023

Contact Information:
Shauna Breneman, Communications Director
Email: sbreneman@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 262-8862

READ RELEASE ONLINE: union.wisc.edu/about/news/pride-chairs-2023

A RAINBOW OF TERRACE CHAIRS WILL MAKE A LIMITED-TIME APPEARANCE AT MEMORIAL UNION ON JUNE 21

MADISON – The Wisconsin Union team will bring out a few Terrace chairs in colors not usually seen at Memorial Union, such as blue and purple, to join with yellow, orange and green Terrace chairs near the front steps of Memorial Union on June 21 from 2-5 p.m. in recognition of Pride Month.

The team invites patrons to take photos with the chairs. The rainbow of chairs previously made appearances at the outdoor dining and entertainment destination the Memorial Union Terrace in 2019 and 2022.

The Wisconsin Union team is further celebrating Pride Month by flying a Pride flag at its buildings Union South and Memorial Union throughout June, except June 16-18 during which a Juneteenth flag will be at both buildings. The Wisconsin Union team is also offering free sunburst image Pride buttons at Union South and Memorial Union, while supplies last.

The sunburst design on the more than 2,000 Terrace chairs, including those presented as part of Pride Month and those at the Memorial Union Terrace, is a trademarked image with early versions dating back to the 1930s. The sunburst has become a well-known image that is synonymous with Madison summers.

The Wisconsin Union marketing team has previously created multiple Pride Month computer and phone wallpapers, which can be downloaded for free here.

Recent 2023 Pride Month events included the Wisconsin Union Directorate Film Committee’s two free Lakeside Cinema film showings: “Booksmart” on June 5 and “But I’m a Cheerleader” on June 12.

Patrons can visit the Union’s website to learn more about the Pride Terrace chairs at the Terrace.

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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 those offered through its events management office. The Wisconsin Union includes the Center for Leadership and Involvement, the Wisconsin Singers, StudentPrint, UW–Madison Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Wisconsin Homecoming Committee, the University Club, UW Conference Centers, the Senior Class Office, and the Fluno Center. Learn more: union.wisc.edu.

Friends of MSCR Golf Outing

June 14, 2023

For Immediate Release

Contact: Nicole Graper at ngraper@madison.k12.wi.us or 608-204-3017, or Mary Roth at mcrowley@madison.k12.wi.us or 608-204-3036

Friends of MSCR Golf Outing
Enjoy a fun day of golf and games while supporting a good cause!

Friends of MSCR is holding the 19^th annual Fore Friends Golf Outing on Wednesday, July 19, at the Oaks Golf Course, 4740 Pierceville Rd, Cottage Grove. Sponsors are needed for this valuable event, please go to birdease.com/mscr to get involved.

Enjoy 18 holes in this fun golf event – no need to be a pro. Network with community and business leaders and experience The Oaks Golf Course! Check in begins at 9:30 am and with lunch. A dinner, auction and awards program follow golf at 4:15 pm. Registration includes lunch, greens fees, golf cart, dinner and a golfer gift.  

Since 2003, Friends of MSCR has gifted more than $530,000 to MSCR. These funds support afterschool clubs, new equipment, new program initiatives, fee assistance and professional development.

The Friends of Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) is a non-profit organization that values MSCR as a vital community resource. Since 1926, MSCR has been Madison’s community based public recreation department. Friends of MSCR support public recreation as an approach to enrich the lives of individuals and the community.

Go to mscr.org or call 608-204-3045 for information on golfing or sponsoring the event. Learn more at mscr.org/get-involved/friends-of-mscr/fore-friends-golf-outing

MSCR is Madison’s public recreation department offering a wide range of recreation programs for all ages.

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The American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact Entrepreneurs Fellowship Application

The American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact Fellowship for female entrepreneurs of color.

The Fellowship runs from July 10, 2023 through June 30, 2024.

This fellowship is dedicated to supporting early and emerging companies led by remarkable women of color who are preparing for significant growth and impact. Whether their ventures lie in the realm of art, technology, or any industry vertical, this fellowship provides resources, mentorship and a supportive community to help these female entrepreneurs unlock their full potential and thrive in their respective fields. We encourage women who have been justice impacted and veterans to apply.

Please read StartingBlock Code of Conduct. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ufU0cfYzsE_ehtfhorGTDKefDp_efUV1/view?usp=share_link

In order to learn more about you and your company, we’d like you to complete the American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact Entrepreneurs Fellowship Application. Once we receive your application, we will be in touch to discuss next steps.

If you have questions, contact Leslie Weissburg at leslie@startingblockmadison.org.

Apply here