Eisenhower Auditorium, located in State College, PA 16801, is Penn State's primary theatrical performance space. Here is a detailed description of its meeting, conference, and event facilities:
Meeting and Conference Facilities
- Seating Capacity: The auditorium has a seating capacity of approximately 2,500 seats, spread across three levels with ground-level seating arranged in rows of thirty-five to sixty seats in a continental manner with no central aisle.
- Event Variety: The auditorium hosts a wide variety of events, including concerts, theatre and dance performances, Penn State commencements, and other community events. It also serves as a venue for conferences, such as the Future Farmers of America conferences.
- Famous Performers: The auditorium has hosted renowned artists and ensembles, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Company, Tori Amos, Kathleen Battle, and many others.
Function Rooms
While Eisenhower Auditorium primarily functions as a single large auditorium, it does not have separate function rooms. However, the building does house offices for the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, including the Arts Ticket Center, which handles ticketing services for all College of Arts and Architecture units and other clients.
Services
- Ticketing Services: The Arts Ticket Center, located within the building, handles ticketing services for all College of Arts and Architecture units and other clients.
- Technical Support: The auditorium features a state-of-the-art reinforcement system, including 24 LYON line array loudspeakers, ensuring high-quality sound for various performances[5].
- Event Support: The venue is equipped to handle a wide range of events, from university commencements to concerts by renowned artists, and provides necessary technical support for these events[5].
Additional Information
- History: The auditorium was built by the General State Authority of the Commonwealth at a cost of almost $6 million and was completed in 1974. It was later named after former University President Milton S. Eisenhower.
- Modern Design: The midcentury modern-style auditorium has a vast open space with no columns to support the towering ceiling and sweeping grand tier and balcony.