Resembling an art deco coliseum, the iconic Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium is one of the last public works designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. All types of plays and concerts are arranged within its spectacular structure. Check the schedule on the campus of Arizona State University and purchase tickets to see a spectacle.
Arrive on the campus and marvel at this ingenious work of architecture. It is 300 feet (90 meters) long and 80 feet (24 meters) tall. Notice the 50 slim concrete columns holding up the outer roof and forming light-pink arches above the glass windows at the top of the perimeter. Stroll along one of the twin pedestrian ramps that look like flying buttresses.
Enter and take your seat in the auditorium, which is split into main floor, balcony and grand tier levels. The theater seats more than 3,000 spectators. Appreciate the impressive acoustics in this hall, aided by the innovative design of the grand tier section.
Note that the stage can be adapted for different types of shows, from Broadway musicals to classical recitals and talks. The site was built over a two-year period from 1962 and is known for its low construction costs. It is named for Dr. Grady Gammage, who was president of Arizona State University from 1933 to his death in 1959. Unfortunately, neither he nor architect Lloyd Wright lived to see the completed vision.
The Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium is in the southern part of the city center of Tempe. Ride a bus to the stop in the northeastern corner of the complex to get here. If you drive, leave your car in the site’s parking lot. While you’re in the area, make sure to visit other neighboring landmarks such as the ASU Art Museum, the Nelson Fine Arts Center and the murals of the Old Main, an early ASU campus building dedicated in 1898.
