Eisenhower Auditorium

Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus
Former names	University Auditorium (1974—1977)
Location	University Park, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°48′06″N 77°51′42″W / 40.80153°N 77.86172°W / 40.80153; -77.86172
Owner	Pennsylvania State University
Type	Auditorium
Genre(s)	Music, concerts, lectures, commencements, and theatre
Capacity	2,500 [4]
Construction
Broke ground	Summer 1971 [1]
Built	October 1973 [2]
Opened	May 8, 1974 [3]

Eisenhower Auditorium (originally named "University Auditorium") is Pennsylvania State University's largest performing arts venue. Located centrally on the University Park campus, Eisenhower Auditorium hosts more than 200 plays, musicals, concerts, lectures, and commencements annually. ^[5]

Construction

Construction of Eisenhower Auditorium began in the summer of 1971 and was completed in October 1973. Installation of technical equipment ended in January 1974 and the building was dedicated under its original name "University Auditorium" on May 8, 1974. ^{[6] [7]}

Seating

Seating at Eisenhower Auditorium is divided into three levels- the orchestra, the grand tier, and the balcony. There are no middle aisles in the auditorium. ^[8]

Extended Sunset

In October 2019, artist and associate professor of art at the University of Albany Adam Frelin installed his work, Extended Sunset in the six vertical windows of the facade of Eisenhower Auditorium. The work features a colorful Pennsylvania sunset, backlit by LED lamp on an astronomical timer system. The work first illuminates as the actual sunset begins and then fades as the sun rises in the morning. ^[9]

References