Hogg Memorial Auditorium, originally designed by architect Paul Cret and first opened in 1933, served The University of Texas at Austin for nearly a century. Over time, the building gradually 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, awarded LEED Platinum Certification, celebrates the historic 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, protecting an adjacent grove of heritage oaks and allowing 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 historic details and are woven seamlessly into the existing building fabric.

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

Design: McKinney York Architects
Engineer: Jacobs
Photography: Patrick Wong