Worcester Memorial Auditorium facts for kids
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The Aud
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| Address | Lincoln Square Worcester, Massachusetts United States |
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| Owner | City of Worcester, Massachusetts |
| Capacity | 3,508 |
| Current use | Vacant |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1933 |
| Architect | Frederic C. Hirons and L. W. Briggs Company |
The Worcester Memorial Auditorium, often called "the Aud", is a big building in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was built in 1933 to remember the brave people from Worcester who fought in World War I.
This special building has a large auditorium that could once hold 3,500 to 4,500 people. It also has a smaller theater called the Little Theater, which seated 675. A very important part of the Aud is the Shrine of the Immortal. This is a war memorial with amazing paintings by Leon Kroll. These paintings honor the 355 soldiers and nurses from Worcester who died in World War I.
In 1980, the Aud was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical building. By 2009, the area around the Aud, called Lincoln Square, was listed as "Most Endangered Historic Resources." This was because the Aud and other old buildings nearby were empty or not used much.
Contents
The Aud's Story
Why the Aud Was Built
After World War I ended, leaders in Worcester wanted to build a public auditorium. It would honor the 355 local people who died in the war. It would also remember all the sacrifices made by Worcester residents during wartime.
It took over ten years to find the right place for the building. The first plans to build it on the Common didn't work out. So, the current spot at Lincoln Square was chosen instead. Construction started in 1931 and finished in 1933. It cost $2 million to build.
On September 26, 1933, a special ceremony took place. The Aud was called "an enduring tribute to those whose sacrifice was sublime." It was meant to be a grand memorial for many generations to use and enjoy.
A Hub for Worcester
For many years, the Aud was the heart of Worcester's community and culture. It hosted concerts, basketball games, and graduations for high schools and colleges. Fundraisers and election day voting also happened in the main hall.
Before the Hart Center opened in 1975, the Aud was home to sports teams. The Bay State Bombardiers basketball team played there. The Holy Cross Crusaders also played on its court. Their young star, Bob Cousy, became very famous.
Many famous performers came to the Aud. Bob Dylan brought his Rolling Thunder Revue. Other stars like Louis Armstrong, B.B. King, and the Rolling Stones also performed. In 2011, the band Phish released an album of their 1991 concert at the Aud. The building even became a shelter after a Worcester tornado hit the area.
The Aud Today
Over time, new sports and performance venues were built in Worcester. The Aud slowly stopped being the main cultural center. In the early 2000s, its basement was briefly used as a court for young people. The main auditorium stored court records. But most of the building fell into disrepair.
The Aud has been empty since 2008. Some organ performances happened until 2016. Then, a burst pipe caused a lot of damage to the floor. This made the space unsafe for public use. Today, the building is sometimes used for police S.W.A.T. training.
Plans for the Future
In 2016, the City of Worcester asked a group called the Architectural Heritage Foundation (AHF) to study the Aud. AHF suggested that the building could become a center for digital innovation, entertainment, and arts.
In May 2019, it was announced that the city would sell the Aud to AHF. AHF planned to buy the building for $450,000 by June 2021. They also planned a huge $94 million project to bring the building back to life. The goal is to make it an educational and cultural center focused on the digital world.
These plans include keeping the outside of the building, the Shrine of the Immortal murals, the Kimball pipe organ, and the lobby. The auditorium would be set up for competitive gaming and esports events. The Little Theater would become an IMAX-style movie place for local schools and events. The memorial hall could become a fancy restaurant. Other spaces would be used for digital labs, game rooms, and offices.
In May 2025, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced a $25 million grant for AHF. This money will help with the restoration and redevelopment. The governor hopes this grant will encourage others to help fund the project.
Building Design
How the Aud Looks
The Aud was designed by Frederic C. Hirons and L.W. Briggs Company. It has a Classical Revival style, which means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. Inside, it has an Art Deco style, which was popular in the 1920s and 30s. It also has cool bas-relief decorations, which are sculptures that stick out from a flat surface.
The building is made of strong materials like Deer Island granite, Indiana limestone, and marble. At the front, facing Lincoln Square, there are five big bronze doors. There are also eight huge Doric columns. Above these columns, a message is carved: "To honor the services in war of her sons and daughters and to nourish in peace their spirit of sacrifice, a grateful city erected this building."
The Aud is five stories tall. It has five main parts: the large auditorium, the Shrine of the Immortal war memorial, the Little Theater, two side chambers, and the basement. The auditorium has a proscenium arch that is 116 feet wide.
Amazing Murals
Artist Leon Kroll created the beautiful murals in the Shrine of the Immortal. These paintings took three years to finish, from 1938 to 1941. Two murals show U.S. Army and Navy soldiers fighting in World War I. The third and largest mural shows a soldier going up to Heaven. He is surrounded by "people of all classes and races gathered in peace and harmony under the American flag." When it was finished, this mural was the biggest of its kind in the United States.
The Kimball Pipe Organ
In 1933, a huge Kimball pipe organ was installed in the auditorium. It has 6,853 pipes! The organ's control panel sits on a special elevator. This elevator could raise or lower the panel between the stage, the auditorium floor, and a level below. This organ has never been changed. It was the main attraction at a "pipe organ festival" in October 2016.
