Foellinger Auditorium

Last updated
Foellinger Auditorium
Foellinger Auditorium University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign closer.jpg
(2013)
USA Illinois location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Illinois
General information
Typeauditorium
Location University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Coordinates 40°06′21″N88°13′38″W / 40.1059°N 88.2272°W / 40.1059; -88.2272
Construction started1907
Completed1907
Renovated1915, 1937, 1951, 1970, 1983-85
Design and construction
Architect(s) Clarence H. Blackall
Other information
Seating capacity1361 [1]

The Foellinger Auditorium, located at 709 S. Mathews Avenue in Urbana, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is a concert hall and the university's largest lecture hall. It is the southernmost building on the main quad. Its size and its dome make it one of the university's most recognizable buildings. The building was completed in 1907 and was designed by Clarence H. Blackall, a noted theatre designer, in the Beaux-Arts style. The building is essentially a circle with a 120-foot diameter covering 17,000 square feet, with a large vestibule on the north side, and 396 lights in its copper dome. [2] [3]

Contents

Originally dedicated to the composer Edward MacDowell, the building was rededicated on April 26, 1985, in honor of Helene Foellinger, whose gift to the university enabled the facility to undergo a major renovation. [4]

History

The idea for an Auditorium began in 1905 with the university's president, Edmund Janes James, who wanted to build a "noble monument" dedicated to the art of music. He wrote: "I am interested in having this the greatest hall of the kind in the Mississippi Valley". [5] The university's trustees chose noted theatre designer and UI alumnus (Class of 1877) Clarence H. Blackall – who was responsible for the Wilbur and Colonial Theatres in Boston, among many others [2] – and a site was chosen for the new building. Blackall later said about the location:

Our University of Illinois will focus about the Auditorium. This building is located upon the only commanding site of the entire grounds, at the crest of the slight rise towards the south from Green Street, where it will form the center of the growth for many years to come, so that ultimately this structure which now seems in a way too far to the south, will be surrounded on all sides by large and developed schools. [6]

Blackall developed a design which was estimated to cost $200,000 to build. Unfortunately the state legislature only authorized $100,000 which necessitated Blackall making some drastic changes in his design, which originally called for an auditorium that would cover 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2), have a copper dome with a smaller glass oculus, and 2,500 seats, [2] as well as a south wing which would be the home for the School of Music. [7] Blackall reduced the overall size of the building, had the dome constructed out of sheet metal, and eliminated the backstage areas, although he arranged the design in such a way as to allow the future addition of a backstage. [2]

Despite the funding shortages, construction of what was originally called simply "the Auditorium" began and ended in 1907. [8] It was constructed on a granite foundation of brick and Indiana limestone. [3] Despite the deviations from Blackall's original plan, upon the building's completion and its two-day dedication on November 4 and 5, 1907, it was capable of holding 2,500 students, more than the entire student body at the time. [2] The building was originally dedicated to the noted composer Edward MacDowell.

Blackall was not pleased about the changes necessitated by the budget shortfall. He complained to university architect James McLaren White in 1923: "My best wish for that building would be to have it go up in smoke some night, and somebody would have the chance to rebuild it right." [3]

Sound problem

Several weeks before the dedication of the building was scheduled, Blackall learned that the hall was acoustically imperfect, with what President James called "A fearful echo." Fixing the hall's sound was assigned to the professors of the university's Physics Department, in particular Floyd Rowe Watson, who knew very little about acoustics, but spent six years solving the problem, after which he was a recognized authority of the subject. [2] [5] Remodeling of the interior in 1915 and 1937 were a part of the effort to fix the acoustical problem. [9]

Sculpture

The Lorado Taft sculpture Alma Mater , which now stands outside Altgeld Hall, was originally placed outside the south end of the Auditorium, where two fragments of the sculptor's Fountain of Creation are now located. [2]

Renovations

The Auditorium was renovated in 1915, 1937, 1951 and 1970. [2] The alterations to the interior in 1915 were intended to help the building's serious acoustical problem. The renovation in 1937 included a major seat replacement project, which reduced the seating capacity from 2,500 to 1,936 seats. The renovation also added dressing rooms and the interior dome ceiling was lowered to help eliminate the echo. Also, some decorative elements were removed. [2]

In 1951, changes were made to bring the building into compliance with fire codes. These included adding fire doors throughout the building and separating the stairwells from the lobby. [2]

By 1970, many campus planners were suggesting that the now worn-out Auditorium be destroyed. However, thanks to a $3 million gift in 1983 from newspaper publisher Helene Foellinger (Class of 1932) of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel , the auditorium was instead renovated again, built and refinished to Blackall's original design under the supervision of architect Walker Johnson, who utilized Blackall's original plans and drawings, as well as tinted lithographs. Wings and a backstage area were added – a total of 6,000 square feet – a new wooden stage floor was installed, seating was replaced, and the sheet metal dome was replaced with a copper one with a 4.5 foot pineapple and 396 embedded lights. In addition the stage lighting and audio system were improved. [2] [3] [8] [10] A rededication ceremony was held on April 26, 1985, when the name of the building was changed to "Foellinger Auditorium". [10]

As part of the renovation, the seating capacity was reduced to 1,750. Of these, 915 are on the main floor, and 835 are in the balcony. [3]

Current uses

Foellinger Auditorium is currently used as a large lecture hall. The facility is also used for guest speakers, performances, concerts, and other events. According to the Auditorium's manager, around 17,000 students use the facility for class and another 5,000 to 10,000 attend various events each week. [3]

The auditorium has a camera atop it which captures live video of the Main Quad, which can be accessed on the Illinois website.

Directly in front of the building, at the bottom of the stairs, there in a semi-circular forecourt area. Due to the architecture, when standing directly in the center, an echo can be heard by the speaker. This area is known as the "echo spot" to most students on the campus. [11] [12]

Events

Speakers

Performers

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memorial Stadium (University of Illinois)</span> Football stadium in Champaign, Illinois

Memorial Stadium is a stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, Illinois, United States. The stadium, used primarily for football, is a memorial to the university's students who died in World War I; their names are engraved on the nearly 200 pillars surrounding the stadium's façade. With a capacity of 60,670, the stadium is primarily used as the home of the university's Fighting Illini football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois College</span> Private college in Jacksonville, Illinois, US

Illinois College is a private liberal arts college in Jacksonville, Illinois. It is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA). It was the second college founded in Illinois but the first to grant a degree. It was founded in 1829 by the Yale Band, students from Yale College who traveled westward to found new colleges. It briefly served as the state's first medical school, from 1843 to 1848.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences</span> College in Illinois, U.S.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) is the largest college of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The college was established in 1913 through the merger of the College of Literature and Arts and the College of Science. The college offers seventy undergraduate majors, as well as master's and Ph.D. programs. As of 2020, there are nearly 12,000 undergraduate students and 2,500 graduate students attending the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Farm Center</span> Arena in Champaign, Illinois, United States

The State Farm Center is a large dome-shaped 15,544-seat indoor arena located in Champaign, Illinois, owned and operated by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The arena hosts games for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball, women's basketball, and wrestling teams. It also doubles as a performance and event center, and is one of the largest venues between Chicago and St. Louis. It opened in 1963 and was known until 2013 as Assembly Hall until State Farm Insurance acquired naming rights as part of a major renovation project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coronado Theatre</span> Theatre in Rockford, Illinois, US

The Coronado Performing Arts Center, in Rockford, Illinois, is a 2,400-seat theatre, designed by architect Frederic J. Klein. The theatre cost $1.5 million to build, and opened on October 9, 1927.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krannert Center for the Performing Arts</span>

The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is an educational and performing arts complex located at 500 South Goodwin Avenue in Urbana, Illinois and on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Herman C. Krannert, an industrialist who founded Inland Container Corporation and an alumnus of the university, and his wife, Ellnora Krannert, made a gift of $16 million that led to the Krannert Center's construction. Max Abramovitz, the architect who designed the facility, was also an Illinois alumnus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln Hall (University of Illinois)</span> Building in Illinois, United States of America

Lincoln Hall is one of the eleven buildings that make up the Main Quad of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The building's exterior depicts scenes of the life of Abraham Lincoln and is located on the southwest corner of the Quad. The building is home of the Liberal Arts and Science College. Lincoln Hall contains four floors which includes classrooms, a theater, conference rooms, and offices for faculty. Specifically, the Department of Communication, Department of Sociology, several LAS administrative offices, including Student Academic Affairs and the Dean's Office reside in Lincoln Hall. Over the years, Lincoln Hall has emerged as the second most used classroom building on campus, with 350 sections of classes held there each semester. Almost every student will have taken a class in Lincoln Hall by graduation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</span>

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is an academic research institution that is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois System. Since its founding in 1867, it has resided and expanded between the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana in the State of Illinois. Some portions are in Urbana Township.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illini Union</span> Student union

The Illini Union, located at 1401 West Green Street in Urbana, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, is the student union for the University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Hall</span> Building in Missouri, United States

Jesse Hall, formerly New Academic Hall, is the main administration building for the University of Missouri. Its dome has towered 180 feet (55 m) above the south end of David R. Francis Quadrangle since its completion in 1895. In the lawn in front of Jesse Hall are The Columns, all that remains of its predecessor Academic Hall, which was destroyed by fire in 1892. The building contains the office of the chancellor, university registrar, graduate school, admissions, and financial aid. One of the most photographic landmarks in Missouri, the building was designed by Missouri architect Morris Frederick Bell, and is his largest surviving work. Jesse Auditorium had hosted graduations and many university functions over the years. The University Concert Series presents national and international concerts, Broadway shows, performers, bands, speakers, and theater to the largest auditorium in Columbia. As the former home of the School of Music, student performances occasionally take place. The building is the most prominent contributing structure to the David R. Francis Quadrangle National Register of Historic Places District. In 1922, "New Academic Hall" was renamed "Jesse Hall" in honor of retiring University President Richard Henry Jesse.

<i>Alma Mater</i> (Illinois sculpture) Sculpture by Lorado Taft

The Alma Mater, a bronze statue by sculptor Lorado Taft, is a beloved symbol of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The 10,000-pound statue depicts a mother-figure wearing academic robes and flanked by two attendant figures representing "Learning" and "Labor", after the university's motto "Learning and Labor." Sited at the corner of Green and Wright Streets at the heart of the campus, the statue is an iconic figure for the university and a popular backdrop for student graduation photos. It is appreciated for its romantic, heraldic overtones and warmth of pose. The statue was removed from its site at the entrance to the university for restoration in 2012 and was returned to its site in the spring of 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza of the Americas (Gainesville, Florida)</span>

The Plaza of the Americas is a major center of student activity on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. It is located in the quad between Library West, Peabody Hall, the University Auditorium, and the Chemistry Building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarence H. Blackall</span>

Clarence Howard Blackall was an American architect who is estimated to have designed 300 theatres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Engineering Hall, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</span>

Engineering Hall is an administrative building at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. It is located in the south end of the Bardeen Quadrangle on Green Street in Urbana, Illinois, facing the Illini Union. Engineering Hall serves all disciplines within the UIUC College of Engineering and is well known for representing the school's colors with its orange bricks and blue roof. In addition to many offices and conference rooms, Engineering Hall also includes two computer labs and four lecture halls. Engineering Hall also houses many engineering-based student organizations in its offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tina Weedon Smith Memorial Hall</span> United States historic place

Tina Weedon Smith Memorial Hall, located at 805 S. Mathews Avenue in Urbana, Illinois, is an historic building on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Smith Hall is located just off the main quad of campus and is just east of Foellinger Auditorium. The building was constructed in 1917-21 and was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by James M. White and George E. Wright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Construction of Assembly Hall (Champaign)</span> Building process of an indoor arena

The construction of State Farm Center, originally known as the Assembly Hall, at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign consisted of building a huge indoor arena with a 400-foot-diameter (120 m) concrete dome whose center height is 125 feet (38 m) above the center floor, and which weighs 10 million pounds. The building is considered an engineering marvel because of the unique method used to build the concrete roof. State Farm Center, the first-ever concrete dome arena, hosts the campus's teams in men's and women's basketball, numerous concerts and other events. It holds sentimental value for numerous alumni and fans alike and attracts attention for its design and construction. The construction of the Assembly Hall was conceived to provide UIUC with needed space for ceremonies and athletic events. The university’s population had outgrown the largest building on campus at that time, the Auditorium, and desired one building that could hold the entire university class. The design of the new building, by Max Abramovitz, called for the construction of one of the world’s largest edge-supported structure. The assembly hall was completed in 1963, and was dedicated on Honors Day, Friday May 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center for Performing Arts (Miami University)</span>

The Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) building is the largest building of the Miami University College of Creative Arts. It houses the Miami University Theater, theater department, and music department. Originally these programs were distributed between Fisher Hall and Hall Auditorium, and were moved to CPA after its construction in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Library (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)</span> United States historic place

The Main Library is a historic library on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Urbana, Illinois. Built in 1924, the library was the third built for the school; it replaced Altgeld Hall, which had become too small for the university's collections. Architect Charles A. Platt designed the Georgian Revival building, one of several on the campus which he designed in the style. The building houses several area libraries, as well as the University Archives and the Rare Book & Manuscript Library. The Main Library is the symbolic face of the University Library, which has the second largest university library collection in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altgeld Chimes</span> Bell tower housing a chime in Illinois , United States

The Senior Memorial Chime, known more commonly as the Altgeld Chimes, is a 15-bell chime in Altgeld Hall Tower on the central campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in Urbana, Illinois, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">English Building, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign</span> Academic building

The English Building, previously known as the Woman's Building and Bevier Hall, is a historic structure on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It is located on the west side of the Main Quad between Lincoln Hall and the Henry Administration Building. The original portion of the English Building, designed by McKim, Mead & White, was completed in 1905 and subsequently expanded in 1913 and 1924. The distinctive columned front, which faces the Main Quad, dates to the 1913 addition. Since 1956, the English Building has been home to the university's Department of English.

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-05-11. Retrieved 2019-09-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "History" Archived 2013-11-03 at the Wayback Machine on the Foellinger Auditorium website. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 O'Kelly, Meaghan. "Foellinger Auditorium turns 100" Daily Illini
  4. ↑ "Dedication - Foellinger Auditorium" at UIHistories Project
  5. 1 2 3 French, John. "Foellinger Auditorium looks back on a sensational century" Archived 2013-09-29 at the Wayback Machine 'Illinois Alumni Magazine
  6. ↑ "Dedication - Foellinger Auditorium" at UIHistories Project. p.5
  7. ↑ "Dedication - Foellinger Auditorium" at UIHistories Project. p.6
  8. 1 2 "Campus Tours: Foellinger Auditorium" Archived 2009-05-08 at the Wayback Machine , Retrieved October 8, 2008
  9. ↑ "Dedication - Foellinger Auditorium" at UIHistories Project. p.10
  10. 1 2 "Dedication - Foellinger Auditorium" at UIHistories Project. p.14
  11. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-10-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ↑ "Quad Cam | Illinois". Archived from the original on 2010-06-10. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 "Dedication - Foellinger Auditorium" at UIHistories Project. p.13
  14. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  15. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  16. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  17. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  18. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  19. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  20. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  21. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  22. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  23. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  24. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  25. ↑ "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  26. 1 2 "All Theater Events (Foellinger, Lincoln & Greg)".
  27. ↑ "'Harlem Shake' DJ to perform at Foellinger Auditorium - the Daily Illini : Arts & Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  28. ↑ "Casey James performs Thursday as Star Course's first country act - the Daily Illini : Arts & Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  29. ↑ "Foellinger Auditorium Events".
  30. ↑ "Nick Offerman gives the gift of wit and woodwork - the Daily Illini : Arts & Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  31. ↑ "Beach Bunny brings indie-pop, new tunes to Foellinger". 13 October 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.