Inventory of the Alexander Memorial Coliseum Visual Materials, ca. 1950-ca.1979
VAC369
Descriptive Summary
| Creator: | Masce, Ron |
| Title: | Alexander Memorial Coliseum Visual Materials |
| Dates: | ca. 1950-ca.1979 |
| Abstract: | This collection contains images related to Alexander Memorial Coliseum. |
| Size: | .10 linear feet (4 items) |
| Identification: | VAC369 |
History of Alexander Memorial Coliseum
Plans for the Alexander Memorial Coliseum were first conceived after the death of long-time coach and Athletic Association director William A. Alexander in 1950. The original plans called for a structure with a seating capacity of 10,000 to 13,000, which would be used for basketball games, tennis, physical training, civic meetings, conventions, commencements, and lectures. With construction costs estimated at $2,500,000, the Athletic Association offered to assume $1,000,000 of the costs and the remaining $1,500,000 would be raised among alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the community.
Rapidly increasing prices, caused by the Korean War, raised the original construction estimate from 2.5 to four million dollars. For the next several years, the administration battled rising costs, disintegrating interest, and limited funds, before finally deciding to scale down the original project to enable construction of a building that matched the size of the funds.
The original building, designed by Aeck Associates, seated 6966 in a combination of theater and bench seats. The circular structure is topped by a dome with a diameter of 270 feet. The dome is supported by thirty-two steel ribs tied to a ten foot diameter center ring. In 1983, the original roof was replaced with a material which easily expands and contracts with temperature changes and was then capped with a copper top.
Alexander Memorial Coliseum was completed in September 1956 and dedicated on 30 November 1956. The Coliseum has undergone three major renovations since its completion. Each renovation added more seats; today, the total seating capacity is 9191. The last, and most extensive, renovation occurred in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Chosen as the boxing venue for the Olympics, the multi-million dollar renovations to the Coliseum included improvements in seating, lighting and sound systems, the addition of luxury boxes, and wider walkways on the concourse level. The floor was lowered and the tunnel entrance rerouted from mid-court to a corner entrance. A new, brick, exterior was created and the building was air conditioned for the first time.
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Description
The Alexander Memorial Coliseum Visual Materials VAC369 contains one postcard (and a duplicate item), two aerial photographs, and a page of statistical information and images. The postcard shows a bird's eye view of the Coliseum at night. The photographs are two aerial views of the Georgia Tech campus prior to the construction of the Coliseum.
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Restrictions
Restrictions: Access
None.
Restrictions: Use
Permission to publish materials from this collection must be obtained from the Head of Archives and Special Collections.
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Related Material
William A. Alexander Memorial Coliseum Campaign Records (UA037) and Facilities Department Photographs and Slides (VAUA316)
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Subject Headings
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Please cite Alexander Memorial Coliseum Visual Materials VAC369, Archives, Library and Information Center, Georgia Institute of Technology.
Provenance
Accession #2004.035.
Processing Information
Mandi D. Johnson processed these visual materials in May 2009.
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Other Finding Aids
A print copy of this finding aid is available in the Georgia Tech Archives reading room.
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Image List
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Fact Sheet, 1956 | |||||||||
| VAC369-01: Sheet of statistical information about the Alexander Memorial Building [Coliseum], also includes a bird's eye view, an interior view, and a ground-level exterior view, 1956 | |||||||||||
| 2 | Postcard, ca. 1965-1979 | ||||||||||
| VAC369-02 [and duplicate]: Postcard of bird's eye view of the Alexander Memorial Coliseum, ca. 1965-1979 | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| Oversized | 3 | Photographs, ca. 1950 | |||||||||
| VAC369-03: Aerial photograph of Georgia Tech campus, before Alexander Memorial Coliseum was built, ca. 1950 | |||||||||||
| VAC369-04: Aerial photograph of Georgia Tech campus, before Alexander Memorial Coliseum was built, ca. 1950 | |||||||||||