Kaiser Center for the Arts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts |
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Kaiser Convention Center in April 2021
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| Former names | Oakland Civic Auditorium (1914-84), Kaiser Convention Center (1984–2023) |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Location | 10 10th Street, Oakland, California |
| Coordinates | 37°47′51″N 122°15′42″W / 37.79750°N 122.26167°W |
| Completed | 1914 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John J. Donovan |
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Invalid designation
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| Designated: | 1979 |
| Reference #: | 27 |
The Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts is a historic building in Oakland, California. It's a place where many different events happen.
It was first called the Oakland Civic Auditorium. Later, in 1984, it was renamed the Kaiser Convention Center. In 2023, it got its current name, the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts.
This beautiful building was finished in 1914. Its style is called Beaux-Arts. The main architect was John J. Donovan. The building has a large arena with thousands of seats. It also has the Calvin Simmons Theatre and a big ballroom.
The center is an important landmark in Oakland. It is listed as #27 on the Oakland Historic Landmarks list. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.
You can find the building at 10 10th Street in Oakland's Civic Center area. It's close to the Oakland Museum, Laney College, and Lake Merritt. It's also near the Lake Merritt BART train station.
Contents
Building's Story: A Look Back
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After the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, Oakland grew very quickly. Many new buildings were planned, and the Oakland Auditorium was one of them. It was built between 1913 and 1915. The Oakland City Hall was also finished around this time in 1914.
The auditorium was first planned as a place for large meetings, called conventions. In 1912, the city approved $500,000 to build it. John J. Donovan was the main architect. Other experts helped with the design and construction. A famous sculptor, Alexander Stirling Calder, created the beautiful carvings on the outside.
The plans for the building grew bigger. They decided to add a theatre, an art gallery, and a ballroom. This made the project cost more than expected. In 1913, the city changed the lead architect. However, John J. Donovan is still known for designing the building.
The Oakland Auditorium opened on April 30, 1915. It had a three-day celebration. Its opening was sped up because of a big fair happening in San Francisco that year. For many years, until the 1960s, it was the main place for conventions and big events in Oakland.
Later, other large venues opened in Oakland, like the Oakland Coliseum in 1966. This meant fewer events happened at the old auditorium. Both the theatre and arena closed on January 1, 2006. For about ten years, no one knew what would happen to the building.
The City of Oakland owned the building until 2011. Then it was sold to a local agency. But that agency closed in 2012, so the city got the building back.
In 2017, a company called Orton Development Inc. (ODI) got a long-term lease. They planned to fix up and run the historic building. Heller Manus Architects led the work to make the building safer in an earthquake and to renovate it.
The Calvin Simmons Theatre reopened in 2024. It now hosts live shows and provides practice spaces for local arts groups. The basement has music studios and creative spaces. The arena space, which was once planned for offices, reopened in 2023 for events, just like it was originally used.
Memorable Moments and Events
The Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts has seen many important events.
- During the 1918 flu pandemic, the building was used as a temporary hospital. It helped many people who were sick.
- Until 1941, the famous Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus performed here.
- In the 1950s and 1960s, the Roller Derby held hundreds of exciting games.
- The Oakland Symphony Orchestra played here until 1972.
- The Oakland Skates roller hockey team played in the arena in 1996.
- For almost 70 years, from 1919 to 1987, the arena hosted a big Christmas Pageant. Over 1,700 children from many schools took part each year.
- Music legend Elvis Presley performed at the center in 1956 and 1957.
- On December 28, 1962, Martin Luther King Jr. gave a speech to 7,000 people. He spoke about the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved people.
- Ike & Tina Turner performed their music here in 1967.
- The famous rock band Grateful Dead played at the center 57 times between 1967 and 1989.
- In 1979, Bob Marley and the Wailers performed during their "Survival Tour."
- In 1988, the arena hosted a big wrestling event called the "Great American Bash."
- In 1991, bands like Anthrax and Public Enemy performed. This was just five days before the death of concert promoter Bill Graham.
- From 1997 to 1999, the University of California, Berkeley's women's basketball team played here. Their usual court was being fixed up.
- In 2012, a group called Occupy Oakland marched to the building. They wanted to use the empty space.
- In March 2022, a mummified body was found inside a wall during renovations. It was later identified as a man who had been missing since 2020.
- On March 26, 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. held a rally here. He announced his running mate for president, Nicole Shanahan.
Building Design: Beaux-Arts Style
The Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts is a large, rectangular building. It sits at the south end of Lake Merritt. Its design follows the Beaux-Arts style. This style is known for being orderly and grand.
Key features of Beaux-Arts include:
- Simple, organized look on the outside.
- Large, impressive size.
- Symmetrical fronts (both sides look the same).
- Light-colored stone walls.
- Decorative details like columns and flower designs.
The building has a roof that slopes to the sides. Decorative walls, called parapets, rise slightly above the roof. The building is about 400 feet long and 200 feet wide. It has four floors, including a basement. You can get around using ramps, stairs, and elevators.
It was designed to hold both an arena and a theatre. The arena is on the east side, and the theatre is on the west. A stage between them could serve both areas. The building is made with a steel frame and reinforced concrete. The arena roof has a special arch system. The main front of the building, facing north, has large granite walls. It features seven arched entrances with beautiful terra cotta carvings.
Location and Surroundings
The Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts was built in a park next to Lake Merritt. It is surrounded by other important city buildings. These include the Oakland Museum of California, Laney Community College, and the Oakland Public Library.
The main front of the building faces north towards Lake Merritt. The sides of the building, on the east and west, have historic entrances. All these parts together create a rich architectural look connected to the lake. The south side, on 10th Street, was historically used for services.
Outside Details: Art and Design
The north side of the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts faces Lake Merritt. It has a grand, symmetrical wall made of granite. This wall has seven arched openings. These openings lead to entryways that are decorated with amazing sculptures.
Each of the seven entrances has detailed carvings made from terra cotta. These artworks are called the "Riches of the Earth." Each carving shows a different scene with its own theme. For example, "Consolation of Arts" shows people playing music and creating art. Other themes include "The Joy of the Effort" and "Wealth of the Sea."
Each entrance is divided into three parts. Four decorative columns frame the main entrance and the windows. The carvings include classical details like garlands of fruit and flowers. They also have patterns around the windows and doors.
See also
- List of convention centers in the United States
