The University of Texas at Austin, Hogg Memorial Auditorium

Austin, Texas

Firm

McKinney York Architects

Client

The University of Texas at Austin

Area

25,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$22,000,000

Completion Date

04/2023

Patrick Wong

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Hogg Memorial Auditorium, designed by architect Paul Cret and opened in 1933, served The University of Texas at Austin for nearly a century. Over time, the building fell into a state of disrepair and struggled to support the myriad of events needed for an evolving campus community.

This major renovation of the 1,000-seat auditorium, slated for LEED Platinum certification, celebrates the historical significance of the architecture while resolving the technical constraints of an aging structure with the functional needs of the next generation.

The design reintroduces natural light, encourages communal gathering, expands access for students of all abilities, and celebrates the building’s past by carefully balancing tradition with innovation. The need for additional area to address deficiencies and add infrastructure was solved through creative spatial thinking within the existing building footprint. The solution protected an adjacent grove of heritage oaks and enabled the historic façade to remain unaltered. Acoustical improvements such as the careful addition of wall panels, new upholstered seating, and relocation of the mixing booth support a new state-of-the-art audiovisual system. Adaptations to public spaces, such as the patterned wood wall in
the lobby, draw inspiration from the historical details and are woven seamlessly into the existing building fabric.

This transformational revitalization returns an underused building to its traditional role as a lively hub for students and visitors to the university.