Gammage Memorial Auditorium facts for kids
From the southeast (2016)
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| Address | 1200 South Forest Avenue Tempe, Arizona United States |
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| Owner | Arizona State University |
| Capacity | 3,017 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1962 |
| Opened | September 18, 1964 |
| Architect | Frank Lloyd Wright |
| General contractor | Robert E. McKee Company |
| Tenants | |
| Broadway Across America | |
| Website | |
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ASU Gammage
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Architect | Frank Lloyd Wright |
| Architectural style | Usonian |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002170 |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 1985 |
ASU Gammage (once called Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium) is a special building for performances and events. It is located at Arizona State University (ASU) in Tempe, Arizona.
This auditorium is named after Grady Gammage, who used to be the president of ASU. It is also famous because it was one of the last big public buildings designed by the well-known American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was built between 1962 and 1964.
ASU Gammage is one of the biggest places in the world for showing performing arts at a university. It hosts many different kinds of shows and events.
In 1985, ASU Gammage was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical building.
Building History
The idea for this amazing building started in 1957. At that time, the university's president, Grady Gammage, wanted a special place for the ASU campus. The school's old auditorium and gym had a roof collapse, so they needed a new one.
President Gammage asked his friend, the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, to design the new building. Wright based his design on a round opera house he had planned for a city far away called Baghdad. Those plans were stopped after a big change in government and the king's death in 1958. Wright also chose the spot for the auditorium, which was an old athletic field where housing for soldiers used to be.
Both Wright and Gammage passed away in 1959. So, Wright's student, William Wesley Peters, took over to finish the auditorium. Construction began in 1962 and was completed in just 25 months. The building officially opened on September 18, 1964. The very first performance was by The Philadelphia Orchestra, led by Eugene Ormandy.
ASU Gammage has also been used for important events. On June 3, 1998, it hosted the funeral of Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. He was a well-known politician who ran for president in 1964.
On October 13, 2004, the auditorium was the place for the third and final debate between George W. Bush and John Kerry. They were running for president in the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election.
Building Design
The ASU Gammage building is about 300 feet (91 meters) long, 250 feet (76 meters) wide, and 80 feet (24 meters) high. Its round roof is held up by 50 concrete columns, creating a cool pattern of circles.
Two long ramps, called "flying buttress" ramps, stretch out 200 feet (61 meters) from the north and east sides. These ramps connect the building to the parking lot, making it easy for people to get inside.
The auditorium can hold 3,017 people. There are seats on the main floor, a grand tier, and a balcony. The stage is designed to be changed for different kinds of shows, like operas, plays, musicals, concerts, and talks.
Performance Areas
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Unique cantilevered balconies
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Auditorium Seating The main auditorium can seat up to 3,017 people. It is set up for people using wheelchairs and has a special system for 100 people who are hard of hearing.
Stage Area
- Type: proscenium (a stage with an arch that frames the performance)
- Playing space: The stage area is about 64 feet wide and can be 33 or 40 feet deep.
- Opening: The main opening where you see the show is 64 feet wide and 30 feet high.
- Floor: The stage floor is made of strong Canadian hard rock maple wood.
Backstage Area
- Loading dock: This is where equipment and sets are brought in.
- Door size: The loading dock door is 10 feet wide and 11 feet 6 inches high.
- Dressing rooms: There are 9 dressing rooms for performers.
- Capacity: Up to 54 people can use the dressing rooms at one time.
Orchestra Pit
- Dimensions: The pit is about 76 feet long and 9 feet wide.
- Stands: There are 85 music stands for musicians.
- Chairs: 90 chairs are available for the orchestra in the pit.
See also
- List of Frank Lloyd Wright works
- Broadway Across America
