Having grown up in Madison, attended Madison High School and the University of Wisconsin, and lived and worked in Spring Green, 40 miles to the west of Madison, Wright was very familiar with the area and was commissioned to do several projects in the city.
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center opened in 1997 after 60 years of debate. The building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1938 as a cultural, government and recreational building. It was reworked several times between 1938 and 1959. Final plans were completed seven weeks before his death. The plans were finally approved in 1992 as a community and convention center. Wright’s final design was used for the outside, but the interior was redesigned by one of his Taliesin apprentices, Tony Putnam. You can see a number of photos of Wright and visit an exhibition about the design and final construction of the building. The view from the pedestrian pathway is not to be missed. There is also an attractive rooftop garden. One John Nolen Drive.
South of the University is a newly discovered Frank Lloyd Wright home at 2107 W. Lawn Ave. It was built in 1917 and is one of only 14 remaining examples of Wright’s affordable housing project.
Unitarian Meeting House: Located on the west end of the University of Wisconsin, at 900 University Bay Dr., this single-level church was commissioned in 1946 and designed by Wright. It was completed in 1951. Additions were added in 1964 and 1990 and designed by Taliesin Associated Architects. Tours are available so check out their website for information as times and dates change by season.
