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Northrop Auditorium

April 11, 2024

Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium (commonly known as Northrop Auditorium or simply Northrop) is a performing arts venue at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is named in honor of Cyrus Northrop, the university's second president. Various events are held within the building, including concerts, ballet performances, lectures, and graduations.

Northrop Auditorium
Grande Dame of the Twin Cities
Heart of the University of Minnesota
Northrop as seen from Northrop Mall
Full nameCyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium
Address84 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0281
LocationNorthrop Mall, University of Minnesota
OwnerBoard of Regents of the University of Minnesota
OperatorUniversity of Minnesota Tickets and Events
Capacity2,692 (2014–present)
4,847 (1929–2011)
168 (Best Buy Theater)
Construction
Broke groundApril 30, 1928 (1928-04-30)
OpenedOctober 22, 1929 (1929-10-22)
April 4, 2014 (2014-04-04) (grand reopening)
Renovated2006 (exterior)
2011–2014 (interior)
Closed2011–2014
Construction cost$1.2 million (1929)
$21 million (2006 exterior restoration)
$88.2 million (2011–2014 interior renovation)
ArchitectClarence H. Johnston Sr. (1929)
HGA (2014)
Tenants
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (1929–1974)
Weisman Art Museum (1934–1993)
University of Minnesota Marching Band (1929–2009)
Website
Venue Website

Northrop anchors the north end of Northrop Mall, a grassy area at the center of campus that is bordered by the university's physics, mathematics, chemistry, and administration buildings, plus Walter Library. Coffman Memorial Union sits at the south end of the mall, opposite Northrop across Washington Avenue.

History edit

Construction edit

Northrop Auditorium was built between 1928 and 1929 as part of a major university expansion project. An auditorium had been part of Cass Gilbert's plan for Northrop Mall dating back to 1908, but it wasn't until 1922, when Cyrus Northrop died, that the university took serious interest in the project. Northrop Auditorium was dedicated both as a memorial to Cyrus Northrop and to the veterans of World War I.[1] University officials raised $665,000 in student pledges, at an average of $80 per student, in a six-month period. It took three more years of fundraising and debate over the size and form of the auditorium before the project came to full fruition. The Greater University Corporation finally submitted a request to have the plans drawn up in the fall of 1926, with a cost not to exceed $1 million.

 
Carlson Family Stage

Frederick Mann, chair of the university's School of Architecture, submitted a building concept that featured a classical portico with pediment. However, the amount of ornamentation and sculptural carving required for the design would have exceeded cost limits and appeared incongruous with the more understated buildings on the sides of the mall. Project architect Clarence H. Johnston Sr. thus toned down Mann's design by making the pediment flat and by turning the roof behind it into a gable. Johnston borrowed some design elements from the portico of the Low Memorial Library at Columbia University for the revised design. The proportions of the frieze and attic, the Ionic order, and the count of ten columns matched those from the Low Library, but the monumental gable parapet had no resemblance to the library's dome. Plans were completed in February 1928, after much debate. The inscription on the attic was not decided upon until after the building was ready for occupancy, even though Johnston had requested the inscription be included in the building contract.[2]: 146–150  The inscription reads: "The University of Minnesota: Founded in the Faith that Men are Ennobled by Understanding; Dedicated to the Advancement of Learning and the Search for Truth; Devoted to the Instruction of Youth and the Welfare of the State."

Northrop's grand opening occurred on October 22, 1929 with a performance by the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. The celebration continued with a performance by the Boston Symphony on October 30 and the "Alumni and State Program" on November 15.

Programming edit

Since its construction, Northrop has been frequently used for a variety of university functions. The auditorium was purportedly designed in 1929 to seat the entire student population in the event of mass assembly. It became the primary venue for university graduations when it hosted its first graduating class in 1930. Free, public lectures were held at Northrop on a weekly basis until 1969 and less frequently through the 1970s. The auditorium was also used as a meeting place for large classes from 1959 until the 1990s.[3]

Dance has been a part of Northrop's programming since Mary Wigman first performed on its stage in 1932. However, it was not until the 1970s that it became Northrop's signature marketing niche. The Northrop Dance Season debuted in 1970–1971 and continues to the present day. The size of Northrop's stage makes it one of the only facilities in the region capable of accommodating major dance productions.[4]

Pop and rock concerts seldom occurred at Northrop during the first 45 years of its history. However, they became more frequent when the university's Board of Regents reversed a decades-old booking policy in 1974. A now-infamous 1990 performance by the B-52's is remembered for causing part of the auditorium's plaster ceiling to collapse.

Several organizations have been based at Northrop over the course of its history. The building housed the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra from the time of construction until 1973. The Weisman Art Museum was located within Northrop until a separate building was built in 1993. The University of Minnesota Marching Band regularly used the building for practice until 2009.[5]

A sizable pipe organ was installed in the building between 1932 and 1936. With 6,982 pipes comprising 108 ranks and 81 speaking stops, it is the largest pipe organ in the Upper Midwest and the third largest Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ extant in the United States.[6] The organ was removed from the building in 2011, but was restored and reinstalled between 2016 and 2017. The organ's return was celebrated with a pair of inaugural concerts on October 12 and 13, 2018.

Renovation edit

 
Memorial Hall

After eighty years of continuous use and timely decay, Northrop was in dire need of rehabilitation by the 2010s. An extensive interior renovation finally began in February 2011. With a design team led by architects Tim Carl and Jim Moore of HGA, the renovation project aimed to retain the building's historic character while making it a state-of-the-art performance space.[7] The renovation reduced seating in the main theater from 4,847 to 2,692 and greatly improved sight lines and acoustics. The new design allowed for a second theater space with seating for 168 to be added on the fourth floor.[8] Offices for the University Honors Program and Institute for Advanced Study, a backstage rehearsal studio, and a main floor cafe were also included in the new design. Important design features such as the proscenium arch and historic columns were preserved as part of the project. Memorial Hall, the building's historic lobby, received a full restoration.

Northrop reopened to the public on April 4, 2014. During the grand reopening celebration, university provost Karen Hanson delivered a speech addressing the history of Northrop and her vision for the future. Conversation with members of the audience produced a number of stories, including one about the ghost of a former stage manager.[9] The American Ballet Theatre subsequently rechristened the stage with a performance of Giselle. Since then, Northrop has continued to serve as a center for art, entertainment, and various university functions. Dance performances and university graduations are held in the building regularly. Lectures and concerts are also common. It further serves as a popular study space for students during the day.

Northrop was formally listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property to the Northrop Mall Historic District in January 2018.[10]

Roof collapse edit

 
Northrop under repair in October 2023.

Around 7:30 PM on January 11, 2023, police and firefighters responded to reports of a loud noise heard at the building and found that the east side of the roof had partially collapsed. No injuries were sustained, though an adjacent underground parking garage was temporarily closed while the building was examined.[11] The theater did not receive any damage and the building reopened on January 30.[12] According to Northrop's blog, the cause of the collapse was a parapet wall failure.[13] Repairs were completed by January of the following year.

In popular culture edit

Notable concerts edit

Other notable events edit

Photo gallery edit

  •  
    Northrop as seen from the front lawn of Coffman Memorial Union
  •  
    The western facade at night
  •  
    Exterior columns
  •  
    Front inscription
  •  
    Carlson Family Stage
  •  
    Carlson Family Stage
  •  
    Historic columns
  •  
    Memorial Hall
  •  
    Proscenium arch
  •  
    Gallery Circle
  •  
    Chandelier

References edit

  1. ^ Millett, Larry (2007). AIA Guide to the Twin Cities: The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St. Paul. pp. 128–129.
  2. ^ Paul Clifford Larson (January 1, 1996). Minnesota Architect: The Life and Work of Clarence H. Johnston. Afton Historical Society Press. ISBN 978-0-9639338-8-1.
  3. ^ http://www.northrop.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/downloads/northrop_grand_reopening_abt_program_history_revitalize_pages.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  4. ^ http://www.northrop.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/downloads/northrop_grand_reopening_abt_program_history_revitalize_pages.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ Ulrich, Paul S. ed. "SIBMAS International Directory of Performing Arts Collections and Institutions". SIBMAS – International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts. Retrieved 2007-06-30. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ "University of Minnesota: Northrop Auditorium". International Organ Foundation. Retrieved 2006-02-26.
  7. ^ . ias.umn.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-04-09.
  8. ^ Nelson, Rick (March 29, 2014). "After renovation, Northrop Auditorium is ready to dance again". Star Tribune. Star Tribune Media Company LLC. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
  9. ^ . ias.umn.edu. Archived from the original on 2013-12-09.
  10. ^ . Archived from the original on 2018-01-20.
  11. ^ Nelson, Tim (January 12, 2023). . mprnews.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  12. ^ Skluzacek, Josh (February 1, 2023). . kstp.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  13. ^ . northrop.umn.edu. February 7, 2023. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.

External links edit

  • Northrop
  • "Bright lights who've performed at Northrop over the years". Star Tribune.

April 11, 2024
northrop, auditorium, cyrus, northrop, memorial, auditorium, commonly, known, simply, northrop, performing, arts, venue, university, minnesota, minneapolis, minnesota, named, honor, cyrus, northrop, university, second, president, various, events, held, within,. Cyrus Northrop Memorial Auditorium commonly known as Northrop Auditorium or simply Northrop is a performing arts venue at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis Minnesota It is named in honor of Cyrus Northrop the university s second president Various events are held within the building including concerts ballet performances lectures and graduations Northrop AuditoriumGrande Dame of the Twin CitiesHeart of the University of MinnesotaNorthrop as seen from Northrop MallFull nameCyrus Northrop Memorial AuditoriumAddress84 Church Street SEMinneapolis MN 55455 0281LocationNorthrop Mall University of MinnesotaOwnerBoard of Regents of the University of MinnesotaOperatorUniversity of Minnesota Tickets and EventsCapacity2 692 2014 present 4 847 1929 2011 168 Best Buy Theater ConstructionBroke groundApril 30 1928 1928 04 30 OpenedOctober 22 1929 1929 10 22 April 4 2014 2014 04 04 grand reopening Renovated2006 exterior 2011 2014 interior Closed2011 2014Construction cost 1 2 million 1929 21 million 2006 exterior restoration 88 2 million 2011 2014 interior renovation ArchitectClarence H Johnston Sr 1929 HGA 2014 TenantsMinneapolis Symphony Orchestra 1929 1974 Weisman Art Museum 1934 1993 University of Minnesota Marching Band 1929 2009 WebsiteVenue WebsiteNorthrop anchors the north end of Northrop Mall a grassy area at the center of campus that is bordered by the university s physics mathematics chemistry and administration buildings plus Walter Library Coffman Memorial Union sits at the south end of the mall opposite Northrop across Washington Avenue Contents 1 History 1 1 Construction 1 2 Programming 1 3 Renovation 1 4 Roof collapse 2 In popular culture 3 Notable concerts 4 Other notable events 5 Photo gallery 6 References 7 External linksHistory editConstruction edit Northrop Auditorium was built between 1928 and 1929 as part of a major university expansion project An auditorium had been part of Cass Gilbert s plan for Northrop Mall dating back to 1908 but it wasn t until 1922 when Cyrus Northrop died that the university took serious interest in the project Northrop Auditorium was dedicated both as a memorial to Cyrus Northrop and to the veterans of World War I 1 University officials raised 665 000 in student pledges at an average of 80 per student in a six month period It took three more years of fundraising and debate over the size and form of the auditorium before the project came to full fruition The Greater University Corporation finally submitted a request to have the plans drawn up in the fall of 1926 with a cost not to exceed 1 million nbsp Carlson Family StageFrederick Mann chair of the university s School of Architecture submitted a building concept that featured a classical portico with pediment However the amount of ornamentation and sculptural carving required for the design would have exceeded cost limits and appeared incongruous with the more understated buildings on the sides of the mall Project architect Clarence H Johnston Sr thus toned down Mann s design by making the pediment flat and by turning the roof behind it into a gable Johnston borrowed some design elements from the portico of the Low Memorial Library at Columbia University for the revised design The proportions of the frieze and attic the Ionic order and the count of ten columns matched those from the Low Library but the monumental gable parapet had no resemblance to the library s dome Plans were completed in February 1928 after much debate The inscription on the attic was not decided upon until after the building was ready for occupancy even though Johnston had requested the inscription be included in the building contract 2 146 150 The inscription reads The University of Minnesota Founded in the Faith that Men are Ennobled by Understanding Dedicated to the Advancement of Learning and the Search for Truth Devoted to the Instruction of Youth and the Welfare of the State Northrop s grand opening occurred on October 22 1929 with a performance by the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra The celebration continued with a performance by the Boston Symphony on October 30 and the Alumni and State Program on November 15 Programming edit Since its construction Northrop has been frequently used for a variety of university functions The auditorium was purportedly designed in 1929 to seat the entire student population in the event of mass assembly It became the primary venue for university graduations when it hosted its first graduating class in 1930 Free public lectures were held at Northrop on a weekly basis until 1969 and less frequently through the 1970s The auditorium was also used as a meeting place for large classes from 1959 until the 1990s 3 Dance has been a part of Northrop s programming since Mary Wigman first performed on its stage in 1932 However it was not until the 1970s that it became Northrop s signature marketing niche The Northrop Dance Season debuted in 1970 1971 and continues to the present day The size of Northrop s stage makes it one of the only facilities in the region capable of accommodating major dance productions 4 Pop and rock concerts seldom occurred at Northrop during the first 45 years of its history However they became more frequent when the university s Board of Regents reversed a decades old booking policy in 1974 A now infamous 1990 performance by the B 52 s is remembered for causing part of the auditorium s plaster ceiling to collapse Several organizations have been based at Northrop over the course of its history The building housed the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra from the time of construction until 1973 The Weisman Art Museum was located within Northrop until a separate building was built in 1993 The University of Minnesota Marching Band regularly used the building for practice until 2009 5 A sizable pipe organ was installed in the building between 1932 and 1936 With 6 982 pipes comprising 108 ranks and 81 speaking stops it is the largest pipe organ in the Upper Midwest and the third largest Aeolian Skinner pipe organ extant in the United States 6 The organ was removed from the building in 2011 but was restored and reinstalled between 2016 and 2017 The organ s return was celebrated with a pair of inaugural concerts on October 12 and 13 2018 Renovation edit nbsp Memorial HallAfter eighty years of continuous use and timely decay Northrop was in dire need of rehabilitation by the 2010s An extensive interior renovation finally began in February 2011 With a design team led by architects Tim Carl and Jim Moore of HGA the renovation project aimed to retain the building s historic character while making it a state of the art performance space 7 The renovation reduced seating in the main theater from 4 847 to 2 692 and greatly improved sight lines and acoustics The new design allowed for a second theater space with seating for 168 to be added on the fourth floor 8 Offices for the University Honors Program and Institute for Advanced Study a backstage rehearsal studio and a main floor cafe were also included in the new design Important design features such as the proscenium arch and historic columns were preserved as part of the project Memorial Hall the building s historic lobby received a full restoration Northrop reopened to the public on April 4 2014 During the grand reopening celebration university provost Karen Hanson delivered a speech addressing the history of Northrop and her vision for the future Conversation with members of the audience produced a number of stories including one about the ghost of a former stage manager 9 The American Ballet Theatre subsequently rechristened the stage with a performance of Giselle Since then Northrop has continued to serve as a center for art entertainment and various university functions Dance performances and university graduations are held in the building regularly Lectures and concerts are also common It further serves as a popular study space for students during the day Northrop was formally listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property to the Northrop Mall Historic District in January 2018 10 Roof collapse edit nbsp Northrop under repair in October 2023 Around 7 30 PM on January 11 2023 police and firefighters responded to reports of a loud noise heard at the building and found that the east side of the roof had partially collapsed No injuries were sustained though an adjacent underground parking garage was temporarily closed while the building was examined 11 The theater did not receive any damage and the building reopened on January 30 12 According to Northrop s blog the cause of the collapse was a parapet wall failure 13 Repairs were completed by January of the following year In popular culture editExterior shots of Northrop can be seen in the 1972 film The Heartbreak Kid Northrop was used as a filming location for the 1994 film With Honors In the film Northrop stands in as the Widener Library at Harvard University Exterior shots of Northrop can be seen in the 2014 film Dear White People Northrop notably hosted the 7th annual NFL Honors awards show prior to Super Bowl LII in 2018 The event was televised on NBC Notable concerts editIgor Stravinsky Louis Armstrong Leonard Bernstein 1945 1947 Marian Anderson Ella Fitzgerald Van Cliburn 1968 Grateful Dead 1971 Peter Paul and Mary Pete Seeger Joni Mitchell 1976 Carole King Bob Marley 1978 1979 Elton John 1979 Frank Zappa 1981 1984 Bette Midler 1983 Depeche Mode 1988 James Taylor 1986 2002 The B 52 s 1990 Aretha Franklin 1992 G3 Tour Steve Vai Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson 1997 Bruce Springsteen 1996 2005 Sonny Rollins 1998 Kenny G Dolly Parton Barry Manilow Prince 2000 Van Morrison 2004 2007 Sheryl Crow John Mellencamp Paul Simon 2006 Neil Young 2007 2019 Bob Dylan 2008 John Legend 2008 2017 Kraftwerk 2015 Iggy Pop 2016 Patti Smith 2017 Diana Ross 2017 Thom Yorke 2018 Anna Lapwood 2024Other notable events editThis article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia s quality standards The specific problem is Better organization needed Please help improve this article if you can February 2024 Learn how and when to remove this template message Mary Wigman January 12 1932 Langston Hughes 1935 Arnold Toynbee 1955 Martin Luther King Jr October 16 1959 January 28 1963 Robert Frost Metropolitan Opera multiple dates Buckminster Fuller 1973 Alvin Ailey American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet multiple dates Martha Graham Mikhail Baryshnikov Robin Williams April 16 2002 The Dalai Lama Presidents Jimmy Carter George H W Bush Bill Clinton Former U S Vice President Walter Mondale and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson October 20 2001 Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia Sonia Sotomayor John Roberts Elena Kagan and Sandra Day O Connor Sherman Alexie NFL Honors February 3 2018 Jane Goodall Gloria Steinem Walter Mondale memorial service featuring President Joe Biden Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith May 1 2022 Keith Ellison campaign rally featuring Bernie Sanders and Ilhan Omar October 7 2022 2023 Robert A Stein 61 Lecture featuring Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett October 16 2023Photo gallery edit nbsp Northrop as seen from the front lawn of Coffman Memorial Union nbsp The western facade at night nbsp Exterior columns nbsp Front inscription nbsp Carlson Family Stage nbsp Carlson Family Stage nbsp Historic columns nbsp Memorial Hall nbsp Proscenium arch nbsp Gallery Circle nbsp ChandelierReferences edit Millett Larry 2007 AIA Guide to the Twin Cities The Essential Source on the Architecture of Minneapolis and St Paul pp 128 129 Paul Clifford Larson January 1 1996 Minnesota Architect The Life and Work of Clarence H Johnston Afton Historical Society Press ISBN 978 0 9639338 8 1 http www northrop umn edu sites default files public downloads northrop grand reopening abt program history revitalize pages pdf bare URL PDF http www northrop umn edu sites default files public downloads northrop grand reopening abt program history revitalize pages pdf bare URL PDF Ulrich Paul S ed SIBMAS International Directory of Performing Arts Collections and Institutions SIBMAS International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts Retrieved 2007 06 30 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a author has generic name help University of Minnesota Northrop Auditorium International Organ Foundation Retrieved 2006 02 26 IAS Thursdays Oct 17 2013 The New Northrop From Past to Future Institute for Advanced Study ias umn edu Archived from the original on 2014 04 09 Nelson Rick March 29 2014 After renovation Northrop Auditorium is ready to dance again Star Tribune Star Tribune Media Company LLC Retrieved July 22 2015 Monday April 7 2014 Provost Karen Hanson Institute for Advanced Study ias umn edu Archived from the original on 2013 12 09 Weekly List National Register of Historic Places Official Website Part of the National Park Service Archived from the original on 2018 01 20 Nelson Tim January 12 2023 University of Minnesota s Northrop Auditorium closed after part of roof collapses mprnews com Archived from the original on February 2 2023 Retrieved October 8 2023 Skluzacek Josh February 1 2023 U of M s Northrop building reopens after partial roof collapse kstp com Archived from the original on February 3 2023 Retrieved October 8 2023 Northrop s building and garages are open northrop umn edu February 7 2023 Archived from the original on May 30 2023 Retrieved October 8 2023 External links editNorthrop Bright lights who ve performed at Northrop over the years Star Tribune Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Northrop Auditorium amp oldid 1217155216, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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