University Auditorium (DePaul University)

University Auditorium
The Barn
Location	2219 N. Sheffield Ave.; Chicago, IL 60614
Coordinates	41°55′23″N87°39′18″W / 41.923°N 87.655°W
Owner	DePaul University
Operator	DePaul University
Construction
Broke ground	1906
Opened	1907
Renovated	1920
Demolished	1979
Architect	John Pridmore
Tenants
	DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball (NCAA) (1923–1956)

Last updated February 18, 2025

University Auditorium or the College Theater Building and nicknamed "The Barn" was a multi-purpose arena and theater in Chicago on DePaul's Lincoln Park campus.^[1]^[2]

History

Construction of University Auditorium began in 1906 and was completed in 1907.^[3] During World War I, the facility served as barracks for the Student Army Training Corps.^[4] In 1920, the venue was remodeled into a gymnasium^[5] and the DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team first played in the facility in 1923.^[3] The team played in University Auditorium until 1956 with the team's last game being a 91-77 victory versus Lewis University on February 21, 1956.^[4] The Blue Demons had their longest home-court winning streak in school history with 81-straight wins at "The Barn".^[3] University Auditorium was replaced by Alumni Hall as the home venue of the men's basketball team on December 16, 1956.^[4] The venue caught fire in 1967 and was demolished in 1979.^[6]^[7] The Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center is now located on the site of University Auditorium.^[7]

References

↑ "DePaul Basketball A-to-Z". depaulbluedemons.com. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
↑ "The Barn". depaul.edu. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
1 2 3 "DePaul University Auditorium; College Theatre". digicol.lib.depaul.edu. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
1 2 3 ""The Barn" at DePaul University". chicagonow.com. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
↑ ""The Barn", also known as DePaul University Auditorium". flickr.com. January 1918. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
↑ "Then and now: Chicago's lost sports venues". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
1 2 "DePaul University Auditorium; College Theatre". library.depaul.press. April 8, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2019.

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[DePaul_BBall-1] "DePaul Basketball A-to-Z". depaulbluedemons.com. Retrieved April 29, 2019.

[2] "The Barn". depaul.edu. Retrieved April 29, 2019.

[Digicol_DePaul-3] 1 2 3 "DePaul University Auditorium; College Theatre". digicol.lib.depaul.edu. Retrieved April 29, 2019.

[Chicago_Now-4] 1 2 3 ""The Barn" at DePaul University". chicagonow.com. Retrieved April 29, 2019.

[5] ""The Barn", also known as DePaul University Auditorium". flickr.com. January 1918. Retrieved April 29, 2019.

[Chicago_Sports_Venues-6] "Then and now: Chicago's lost sports venues". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 29, 2019.

[DePaul_Press-7] 1 2 "DePaul University Auditorium; College Theatre". library.depaul.press. April 8, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2019.

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v t e DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball
Venues	University Auditorium (1923–1956) Alumni Hall (1956–1980) Allstate Arena (1980–2017) Wintrust Arena (2017–present) McGrath-Phillips Arena (practice/alternate 2000–2017)
People	Head coaches NBA players Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

v t e DePaul University
Academics	College of Computing and Digital Media College of Law Kellstadt Graduate School of Business The Theatre School
Athletics	Sports: DePaul Blue Demons Men's basketball Women's basketball Men's soccer Big East Conference Venues: McGrath-Phillips Arena Wintrust Arena
Campus	Merle Reskin Theatre
Student life	The DePaulia
History	Allstate Arena Alumni Hall Barat College Congregation of the Mission McCormick Theological Seminary University Auditorium Vincent de Paul
People	Alumni Dennis H. Holtschneider

Construction
The Barn

Location	2219 N. Sheffield Ave. Chicago, IL 60614
Coordinates	41°55′23″N87°39′18″W / 41.923°N 87.655°W / 41.923; -87.655
Owner	DePaul University
Operator	DePaul University
Broke ground	1906
Opened	1907
Renovated	1920
Demolished	1979
Architect	John Pridmore
Tenants
DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball (NCAA) (1923–1956)