Vesterheim now has six FortiAP 431F Wi-Fi access points for use in the Commons building thanks to a generous gift from Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.

“It gives us great pleasure to donate these access points to Vesterheim to support the development of Vesterheim’s new building project,” Aase Haugen Executive Director Sam Boeke said. “The points had been in use at Vennehjem, Aase Haugen’s independent living center, but are basically new and needed to be changed due to a system shift in the building,” Aase Haugen Business Development Director Patty Casterton explained.

Wright Way Computers (WWC) provides technical services for Aase Haugen and Vesterheim. Aware of the technology needs for the Commons building, WWC owner Tyler Wright brought the two parties together to realize this generous gift. “We are very excited about the new building on the museum campus – the architecture alone is fascinating. What an asset to our community,” Casterton said.

“We are grateful for community support of the Commons project and appreciate the staff at Aase Haugen thinking of us with this gift,” Vesterheim President/CEO Chris Johnson said. With this gift, Vesterheim Commons will have a stronger wifi connection available for visitors.

Aase Haugen Senior Services has offered senior living in the Decorah area since 1915. Their current continuum of care includes long term care, assisted living, respite care, a dementia unit, and Vennehjem/Nabotunet, an independent living options.

With 7,600 square feet spread across three levels and almost an acre of surrounding landscaped patio, the new Vesterheim Commons building physically links the past and the future, connects the museum collection to the Folk Art School, and enriches the Vesterheim visitor experience for those coming to Decorah or participating digitally through a new video and photography production studio. This project is part of a comprehensive, long-range planning process with Snøhetta, the renowned international architecture and landscape architecture firm and is supported with work by Iowa architects BNIM. Find out more about the Commons project here.

Aase Haugen Business Development Director Patty Casterton, Aase Haugen Administrator Lauren Fink, Vesterheim Vice President of Development Diane Wagner, Aase Haugen Executive Director Sam Boeke, Vesterheim Director of Administration Marcia McKelvey, and Wright Way Computers Owner Tyler Wright.