Fresno Memorial Auditorium (Front)
Front of the Memorial Auditorium in Fresno
Description
‘The building is approximately 170 by 236 feet in over-all dimensions. The auditorium is 100 by 140 feet and is provided with a stage, 35 by 100 feet, and a gallery around three sides. A large foyer, committee rooms, and the necessary services are included in the facilities. The construction is reinforced concrete designed to resist seismic disturbances, and the exterior finish is in concrete. The project was completed in December 1936 at a construction cost of $406,292 and a project cost of $517,903.’
– C.W. Short and R. Stanley Brown
This Monumental Moderne building with Art Deco details was built by Allied Architects, a “Great Depression-era consortium between architects W. D. Coates, Charles H. Franklin, H. Rafael Lake, Ernest J. Kump, Sr., Fred Swartz, and Edward W. Peterson in Fresno, California. Among their buildings were the Fresno Memorial Auditorium and the Fresno County Hall of Records.” It is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
– http://historicfresno.org/bio/allied.htm
‘The completion in 1966 of a new convention center complex led to several changes in the Memorial Auditorium. The most significant change was the creation, within the main auditorium, of a 500-seat theater with a sloped floor and improved acoustics. The theater occupies about two-thirds of the original auditorium; the rest of the auditorium is used for rehearsal activities. Most of the meeting rooms have been converted to offices, which for many years housed various city administrative functions. The auditorium has had several minor changes to its exterior, which have occurred incrementally over a long period. The entrance doors were originally wood with large glass panels. They have been replaced by anodized aluminum doors with glass panels. The wood door frames remain. The new doors are painted the same color as the originals, so that the change of materials is not noticeable. The central entrance on the west facade was changed by the addition of a canopy to shade the landing and doors from the afternoon sun. The addition was very simple and does not alter the original character of the building. ‘ http://historicfresno.org/nrhp/memorial.htm
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“The modern handling of the building masses is effectively used in the memorial auditorium, constructed with PWA funds.”
Fresno Memorial Auditorium
"The modern handling of the building masses is effectively used in the memorial auditorium, constructed with PWA funds."
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“The modern handling of the building masses is effectively used in the memorial auditorium, constructed with PWA funds.”
Fresno Memorial Auditorium - Verso
"The modern handling of the building masses is effectively used in the memorial auditorium, constructed with PWA funds."
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“Memorial auditorium at Fresno, California, constructed by PWA.”
Memorial auditorium at Fresno
"Memorial auditorium at Fresno, California, constructed by PWA."
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“The new auditorium at Fresno, California – work done by PWA.”
Fresno Auditorium under construction
"The new auditorium at Fresno, California - work done by PWA."
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Memorial auditorium at Fresno - verso
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Fresno Auditorium under construction - verso
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“The modernistic lines of the Fresno, California Auditorium are set off against a darkening sky. Work done by PWA.”
Fresno Auditorium
"The modernistic lines of the Fresno, California Auditorium are set off against a darkening sky. Work done by PWA."
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Fresno Auditorium - verso
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Side of the Memorial Auditorium in Fresno
Fresno Memorial Auditorium (Side)
Side of the Memorial Auditorium in Fresno
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Fresno Memorial Auditorium Under Construction
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Fresno Memorial Auditorium
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Fresno Memorial Auditorium Exterior
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Fresno Memorial Auditorium Lobby
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Fresno Memorial Auditorium Interior
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Fresno Memorial Auditorium with Flag
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“Dumping a barrow of concrete in the wall forms at the Fresno Memorial Auditorium. This building is being constructed with the aid of PWA funds.”
Fresno Memorial Auditorium under construction
"Dumping a barrow of concrete in the wall forms at the Fresno Memorial Auditorium. This building is being constructed with the aid of PWA funds."
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Fresno Memorial Auditorium under construction - verso
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“Concrete slides from this barrow into the walls of the Municipal Auditorium at Fresno, California. This work is being done with the aid of PWA funds.”
Fresno Memorial Auditorium under construction
"Concrete slides from this barrow into the walls of the Municipal Auditorium at Fresno, California. This work is being done with the aid of PWA funds."
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Fresno Memorial Auditorium under construction - verso
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“Concrete is carried first in an overhead trolley from the mixer to the barrel and then by the barrel to the point where it is poured into form on the Auditorium. This work is being done with PWA funds.”
Fresno Memorial Auditorium under construction
"Concrete is carried first in an overhead trolley from the mixer to the barrel and then by the barrel to the point where it is poured into form on the Auditorium. This work is being done with PWA funds."
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Fresno Memorial Auditorium under construction - verso
Project Details
Federal Cost | Local Cost | Total Cost | Project #'s |
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517903 |
Source notes
Short, C. W. and R. Stanley-Brown (1939) Public Buildings: Architecture Under the Public Works Administration, 1933 to 1939. United States Government Printing Office: Washington, DC. http://historicfresno.org/photo/memaud2.htm
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