Looks Important

[tbutler]

...or at least that's still the association I get from buildings like this.

Hoch Auditorium was built in the 1920's as the main auditorium for the University of Kansas; originally to host the basketball team, but also as a concert venue and other giant assemblies. I remember seeing Fantasia there, for the first time when I was old enough to really picture it. I remember an orientation assembly there, where even a fairly large crowd felt dwarfed by the echoing hall. The seats looked at least 30 years old, possibly older.

And then in 1991, lightning struck and started a fire that gutted the building; only part of the walls and the lobby were left standing.

Hoch was rebuilt behind that facade; the new building was named Budig Hall, after the Chancellor who worked to raise the funds. The Hoch name was retained for the front of the building, though.

Comments

[yhlee]

That's a gorgeous building. I'm glad it was rebuilt.

I'm reminded of the one building in my life-experience that was set on fire, but later rebuilt: 2008 Namdaemun fire. (Nam = south, dae = great, mun = door: "great south gate.") I cried when I heard, because that gate was such a fixture of my childhood. But they rebuilt it, so.

[tbutler]

I'm glad they rebuilt it. It looks like a beautiful ceremonial gate, and I can see where it'd make an impression.

I just... can't understand the mindset of someone who would deliberately set fire to a historic treasure like that. Yeah, great that he decided not to attack buses that would kill lots of people, but it's still... just senseless vandalism. Like they were just striking out and trying to hurt people with fond memories of it.

[tbutler]

Oh, and for the side view:

[yhlee]

That's spectacular--the lens flare is just perfect, too.