Limited-edition, Badger Red mini Terrace chair celebrates 175th UW–Madison anniversary
Posted: 05/14/24
A limited-edition, Badger Red, mini Terrace chair 175 years in the making — with a sunny lakefront and 175 in its chairback — recently made its debut at Badger Markets at Memorial Union and Union South and in the Online Terrace Store in celebration of the 175th anniversary of the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The Wisconsin Union team and the UW–Madison Office of Strategic Communication collaborated to create the new mini chair as part of the university’s yearlong anniversary celebration and celebration of the Wisconsin Idea, a belief that UW–Madison’s teaching, research and public service should push beyond the boundaries of campus to improve the lives of all.
Wisconsin-based Wisco Industries crafted and painted the 4-inch-tall chairs. The Wisconsin Union currently has about 1,700 available for purchase. The team does not anticipate producing additional 175th anniversary chairs.
"We’re proud to celebrate the university’s 175th anniversary with this special edition of one of our most beloved icons, the Terrace chair,” said Vice Chancellor for University Relations Charles Hoslet, who led the 175th anniversary celebration for campus. “Purchasing a chair is a great way to join in the celebration with Badgers everywhere.”
Funds raised from the limited-edition chair sales will in part go to the Chancellor’s Annual Fund, which has historically supported the university’s students as well as helped make the Wisconsin Idea possible in many ways, including the providing of student financial support, the recruitment and retention of faculty, and the exploration of new research possibilities. Sales will also support student leadership opportunities as well as free and low-cost events at the Wisconsin Union.
“For more than 110 years, the Wisconsin Union has been part of UW–Madison, striving to expand learning beyond the classroom and to make a difference in the lives of students, faculty, staff, visitors and community members,” said Mark Guthier, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs and the Wisconsin Union director. “The 175th mini Terrace chair is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our shared history of supporting the Wisconsin Idea, the incredible ways UW–Madison is changing the world, as well as the university’s supporters.”
The Wisconsin Union’s previous limited-edition mini chairs have included a cow-print chair in 2019 supporting the UW School of Veterinary Medicine; a 2020 Earth-themed chair that supported the UW–Madison Green Fund; a 2023 purple and teal chair supporting University Health Services’ Suicide Prevention Fund; and a 2024 multi-hued chair that supports the Multicultural Student Center’s (MSC’s) food insecurity initiatives.
Patrons can currently purchase a limited supply of the 175th mini chairs, the cow-print mini chairs, and the multi-hued MSC chairs in the Wisconsin Union’s Badger Markets at Memorial Union and Union South and the Union’s online store, while supplies last. The Wisconsin Union team sells red, green, yellow and orange mini Terrace chairs and tables as well as full-size white and red Terrace chairs and tables year-round.
The full-size yellow, orange and green Terrace chairs that inspire the Wisconsin Union’s mini Terrace chairs appear at the Union’s lakefront outdoor dining and entertainment destination the Memorial Union Terrace each year for a summer by the lake. Summer by the Lake at the Terrace includes dozens of free and low-cost art events, free concerts, free film showings and low-cost outdoor recreation experiences. Patrons can learn more about Terrace season at TerraceSummer.com.
To learn about the 175th anniversary celebration and UW–Madison, visit 175.wisc.edu.