Project Details

Just in time for its 90^th birthday, this renovation brought life back to one of the oldest hubs of student activity on The University of Texas at Austin campus.  Hogg Memorial Auditorium first opened in 1933 and dutifully served the university for nearly a century; however, it was struggling to support the myriad of new and diverse events for which it was now needed.  This major renovation celebrates the historic significance of the architecture and balances the technical constraints with the functional needs of the next generation.  Acoustical improvements – such as the addition of acoustical wall panels, new fabric upholstered seating, and relocation of the mixing booth – tune the auditorium to the needs of amplified performances and support a new state-of-the-art A/V system in order to attract talent and train theater students on cutting edge technologies. The windows were uncovered and motorized shades introduced to maintain complete blackout capabilities while also reintroducing natural light when the auditorium is used for final exams, sorority gatherings, and new student orientations.  However, the first thing one notices upon entering the new venue is a reconfigured lobby that has been enlarged to support the front of house crowds before events whilst preserving the ornate encaustic floor tile, stenciled ceilings, and historic light fixtures.  New decorative wood wall paneling repeats abstracted geometries inspired by the iconic carved plaster surrounding the stage to create a dramatic and distinct threshold between the new lobby and revitalized auditorium.

Hogg Memorial Auditorium is LEED Platinum Certified. McKinney York Architects was the architect working with the engineering prime, Jacobs Engineering.